Axarquia 23 – 29 March 2023 Issue 1968

YOUR PAPER IS INSIDE

GOLDEN BONDS

TORROX celebrated a heartwarming event on Saturday, March 18 at the town’s Teatro Villa de Torrox. The town recognised the unbreakable bond between more than 50 couples who have been married for more than 50 years at a massive Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration.

The ceremony, which was the first of its kind in the area, recognised each of the couples one by one and their dizzying total of more than 2,500 years of marriage! In the moving ceremony, each of the couples took to the stage and renewed their wedding vows, saying “I do” once again, in front of their families, friends, and loved ones.

Local mayor, Óscar Medina, led the ceremony. He opened by saying, “Today, we have gathered to unite over 50 couples who have been mar­

SEVERAL tourist attractions in Axarquia received a prestigious SICTED certification, (Spanish Tourist Quality System) on Tuesday, March 21, testament to the quality services they offer tourists.

The President of regional authority, the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Axarquia, José Juan Jiménez handed out certifications to several public services and businesses, all of whom have met the strict quality standards required by the SICTED.

“The ‘Compromiso de Calidad Turística’ (Tourist Quality Commitment) symbolises a guarantee of quality for the destina ­

Chef triumph

FOUR talented chefs faced off in the final round of Almuñecar’s fourth annual Tropical Chef Competition, on Tuesday, March 21 at the stunning Victoria Playa Hotel.

This year’s edition of the competition with a dozen talented chefs having vied for the top spot, but only four were left standing in the final round: Pablo González García, Tadeo García, Ser­

gio González, and Samuel Jiméne.

The unique cooking competition sees chefs pitted against one another to create dishes including a tropical ingredient, this year, focusing on the tropical fruit, papaya. The cookery contest was an opportunity for contestants to put their support behind Axarquia’s subtropical farming industry and local businesses.

ried for more than 50 years. You are showing your loved ones the person who completes you and with whom you deserve to spend the rest of your days.”

The event was a touching tribute

to the enduring power of love and the importance of family, friends, and community in our lives. Congratulations to all of the couples who celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in Torrox.

Quality boost

nicipalities and entrepreneurs, ensuring that tourists have the best possible experience during their stay.”

Peñas highlighted the benefits of receiving SICTED certification, which includes improvements to the organisation, staff qualifications, service quality, and better compliance with regulations..

tion of Axarqu’a Costa del Sol,” said Jiménez. “These

certifications show the excellent work of our mu­

More than 70 public services and businesses in the region are currently SICTED certified. Among the recipients of this year’s certifications were the Ferrara and El Morche beaches in Torrox, tourism offices in Competa and Torrox, and several hotels and restaurants.

The four finalists after qualifying in an intense semifinal in Almuñecar Tropical Chef competition.

Representatives from tourist attractions and services across Axarquia receive their SICTED certificates of quality.

Photo credit: Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Axarquía

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Almuñécar (via email)

Betty Henderson

Couples in Torrox who have been married for more than 50 years were recognised in a ceremony where they also renewed their vows.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Torrox (via Facebook)

Fabulous ‘Flabbamenco’

PREPARE for an extraordinary musical experience that combines two unique styles, the Swedish superstar band, ABBA and the classical Spanish musical genre, flamenco!

The Antonio Guerra Company is bringing its spectacular fusion show, ‘Flabbamenco’, to the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñecar on Friday, March 24 at 8pm, and to the Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja on Sunday, March 26 at 7.30pm.

‘Flabbamenco’ is an innovative artistic concept that blends the best of ABBA’s music with the passion and rhythm of flamenco. Choreographed by the renowned dancer Antonio Guerra and performed by the artist him­

self and his flamenco troupe, this show is a surprising fusion of Swedish and Spanish cultures that will impress all audiences.

During the show, Johan Stengård will also be performing his ‘Thank you for the music’ show in which he takes the audience on a musical journey through his ca­

Almuñecar scores big

Betty Henderson

THE Andalucian Youth Football Cup’s Alevín category is set to kick off in Almuñecar on Wednesday, March 29. The much-anticipated event will bring together eight teams from across Andalucia to compete in the thrilling four day tournament.

reer, having shared the stage with the likes of Phil Collins, Celine Dion, and legendary ABBA.

Tickets are priced at €30 and can be purchased at the Casa de la Cultura de Almuñecar, Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja, Viajes Eroski, flab bamencoconcert@gmail.com and www.mientrada.net.

Organisers held a draw for the tournament at Almuñecar Town Hall, where teams were paired off against each other. Each of the matches will be played at the Francisco Bonet Municipal Stadium.

The draw saw the teams divided into two groups: Group A which consists of Cordoba, Cadiz, Jaen, and Malaga, while Group B consists of Granada, Almeria, Sevilla, and Huelva. The matches promise to be exciting and the tournament is expected to be a hotbed of talent, with plenty of young players showcasing their skills on the field.

The local council also signed a four-year extension to their partnership with the Andalu-

THE national government is making waves with an exciting new investment in beaches across Axarquia and further afield. The Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) approved a whopping €1.3 million to be spent on beach restoration, reshaping the coastline, and removing debris on Monday, March 20.

Beach face-lift

cian Football Federation (FAF), which has been in place for 16 years. The local mayor, Juan José Ruiz Joya, signed the contract along with councillors and the president of the FAF, Pablo Lozano.

Authorities thanked the FAF for choosing Almuñecar and encouraged spectators to explore the beauty of the area during the tournament.

The project is set to take place ahead of the summer season, with the Demarcación de Costas set to take charge of the work. The work will take place in beaches in all 14 regions of Malaga provinces including the towns of Nerja, Torrox, Algarrobo, Velez-Malaga, Rincon de la Victoria

and Malaga city itself. Beaches on the Costa del Sol will also receive work. The emergency project was approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment to respond to the coastal issues in the Malaga region following the devastating east windstorm that hit the region last February. The highest priority beaches include Ferrara beach in Torrox.

Water win

FOLLOWING last year’s drought troubles, the regional government, the Junta de Andalucia is investing a whopping €141 million in new water works in the Axarquia region to stop the issues from arising again.

The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Carmen Crespo, made a visit to a water treatment facility in Algarrobo on Monday, March 13, where she explained that a €718,000 investment will add a further one hm³ of water to the local water supply.

Thanks to these improvements, the Axarquia region will have greater resources for irrigation of agricultural crops as well as more water in storage and for drinking water purposes.

Crespo added that Andalucia is at the forefront of Spanish water technological developments aiming to combat drought.

Organisers draw match pairings ahead of an Andalucian youth football tournament in Almuñecar.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Almuñécar (via email)

The ‘Flabbamenco’ show strikes the perfect balance between two seemingly distinct styles, flamenco and ABBA.

Photo credit: Flabbamenco (via Facebook)

Clocks go forward

DAYLIGHT Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 2.00am. At this time, clocks will ‘spring forward’ as we welcome in the longer days and sunnier seasons of spring and summer.

Easter Egg-stra

A PRE-EASTER market is set to get in the spring spirit from 10am on Friday, March 31 at the Asador in Puente Don Manuel near Alcaucin. Guests can browse stalls filled with Easter goodies and enjoy a full English breakfast.

Date change

ORGANISERS from Curro’s Walk, a memorial walk for a beloved dog who sadly passed away in January, would like to remind interested participants that the date of the walk has been changed to Saturday, March 25 with registration from 11am.

Holy Week

THE Anglican Chaplaincy of St George’s Church in Malaga has released a schedule for masses during Holy Week and Easter. A total of 11 masses will be offered at various locations across the Axarquia region from Saturday, April 1 until Easter.

Cat care

ORGANISERS from a cat neutering campaign in Canillas de Aceituno have thanked the public for their kind donations totalling €510 which have allowed 12 cats to be neutered in the last fortnight, preventing unwanted kittens from being born.

Bonjour à tous

A NEW monthly radio programme is offering a French perspective on local issues in Axarquia. The programme takes place on the third Thursday of each month at 4.30pm on Radio Torrox (107.3FM) for any Francophones in the region.

Bridging the gap

Betty Henderson

REGIONAL authorities have unveiled a new pedestrian footbridge over the Morenas stream as part of a nearly €800,000 from the Diputación de Malaga which has been assigned to various projects in Riogordo.

The investment is part of a scheme to link Rigordo up into a nationally recognised hiking route, the ‘Great Malaga Path’ (GR249).

Authorities open a new footbridge along the GR-249 hiking trail.

The President of the Diputación de Malaga, Francisco Salado, together came together with the mayor of Riogordo, An­

A RENOVATION project in Torre del Mar came to a conclusion on Monday, March 13 with a visit from deputy mayor of Torre del Mar, Jesús Pérez Atencia and the councillor for Environment, Antonio Ariza. The historic park located next to the Casa de la Viña had fallen into disrepair.

During the visit, Atencia detailed the specific action taken including new concrete flooring, benches, and repair work to walls which were previously damaged.

YOUR EWN HAS

tonio Alés, to open the 35 metre pedestrian footbridge which crosses the Morenas stream. Thanks to a €100,000 investment, the new bridge connects Calle Rafael Alberti with the riverside path of Morenas, connecting the town onto the GR­249.

Salado explained the project not only allows residents from Riogordo to enjoy a natural leisure space, but also allows hikers to access the town. The GR­249 continues to grow, covering a total of 942 kilometres and crossing four natural parks.

Reviving historic park

The project also saw the replacement of plant pots and new species of flowers being planted including bougainvillaea, and abelias.

Atencia also highlighted the importance of the project for the community saying, “This is an area that is dear to the residents of Torre del Mar. The Casa de la Viña is a part of our town’s history, and

Catstravaganza is a success

A WHOLE host of animal lovers banded together in a heartwarming display of compassion to aid local cats in animal shelters and living on the streets in Benajarafe.

The ‘Catstravaganza’ market was held in a stunning seafront venue in Puerto Niza, where the breathtaking coastal views were as awe ­ inspiring as the charity mission behind the event.

Everything from books, clothing, handmade gifts, cakes and treats, to animal toys were on display at the fair, drawing eager supporters who were keen to lend a helping paw. In addition to the varied stalls, there was also a tombola, which

helped raise vital funds for charities such as Axarquia Animal Rescue’s neutering campaign and other local cat charities.

Attendees were impressed with the fair, including one guest, Anna, who took to Facebook to share some snaps, writing, “It was quiet but a great turn out by stallholders to support Catstravaganza. My friend and I made some lovely purchases and thoroughly enjoyed our day by the sea. Hope the event raised much ­ needed funds.”

The community came together at the heartening event to show that every effort can go a long way in supporting animals in need.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Justice is served

we want it to be a part of our present as well. Now residents have a space to walk and rest where the scent of orange blossoms fills the air and there are shaded areas.”

The project has brought new life to the historic park, providing a much­needed oasis of greenery and tranquillity for residents and visitors in Torre del Mar.

Reel action

RINCON DE LA VICTORIA

is celebrating Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, April 1, with a unique filmmaking contest. The town’s ‘Yinkana Audiovisual’ contest will see contestants gather for a funfilled day of filmmaking.

The main goal of the initiative is to promote the inclusion of people with autism in all aspects of society, ensuring that they are treated equally and with respect. The event aims to encourage all to get involved in the creation of a short film.

The event will kick off at 10am at La Cala del Moral. Four mentors will create teams of up to five individuals from the participants who sign up. The mentors will also be responsible for guiding and providing the teams with the knowledge and tools needed to create a highquality short film.

The teams will have

eight hours to film their 10­minute film, starting at noon after a screenwriting exercise. Films must be shot entirely in the Rincon de la Victoria area, and should highlight the most recognisable sights in the town.

The final product will be submitted by 8pm, before the films are showcased in a gala.

AFTER three decades of planning, Torrox ‘Palace of Justice’ courts are finally becoming a reality, as they move to the construction stage. The mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, made the exciting announcement on Monday, March 20, after meeting with the councillor for Justice, Jose Antonio Nieto.

The pair’s meeting was an important step towards the construction of the much­needed facility. Medina described the meeting as a historic moment for residents who have been seeking new courts for the last 30 years. “This is an imminent development, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” Medina said.

The new courthouse will be modern and spacious, and it will propel Torrox into its role as the head of the judicial district in Axarquia. The courts are also expected to boost the local economy by providing jobs during the construction stage and when they open.

A final agreement is set to be signed shortly.

Photo credit: Diputación de Málaga

Ruff to royalty

Action-packed ‘Senior Week’ Anís tour

TORRE DEL MAR, is gearing up for an actionpacked week of events for its older residents. From Monday, March 27 until Saturday, April 1, the town is set to host its 14th edition of its ‘Senior Week’, a week dedicated to the older population.

work created by participants in various workshops. The following day, a choir performance will take place in Velez­Malaga, followed by an afternoon visit to museums in the town.

THE sun shone down brightly on a group from Lux Mundi in Torre del Mar as they set out on their coach excursion. The group were excited to explore new destinations on the trip, including Rute and Iznajar in Cordoba Province.

Betty Henderson

ONE rescue dog from Axarquia made the news on Sunday, March 19 after her new Swedish owners detailed her incredible recovery.

Not long ago, Eli was discovered on a farm by the National Police suffering from neglect and abuse. She was starving, kept in darkness in a small room, and tied up with wires to a pole attached to the wall. The poor pup couldn’t even lie down properly and was close to death when she was discovered.

However, thanks to the quick thinking of animal rescue organisations, the police arrived on the scene just in time. A collaboration of animal

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

rescue groups and vets in Velez­Malaga then worked hard to nurse Eli back to health from a range of conditions including malnutrition, liver problems and anaemia.

Once well enough, Eli was taken in by the SOS Animals of Sweden charity who began the process to find her a new home and a loving family, finding a family in Sweden.

Eli’s new family gave her a new lease on life. She now goes by the name of Eli, and she’s a happy, healthy dog. She may have left the warm climate of the Axarquia behind, but she’s found a new home where she’s loved and cared for.

The week consists of exciting cultural activities, trips, and fun­filled community events with a focus on the older population.

Local authorities unveiled the event’s programme on Monday, March 20, describing it as “extremely varied” to cater to all tastes while promoting active, healthy aging.

The festivities will kick off on Monday, March 27, with an exhibition of art­

THE Easter period is usually a time for tradition, culture, and religion, but one local sports club is putting a healthy twist on their celebrations.

Other highlights of the programme include a dance masterclass in Torre del Mar and theatre performance in Las Melosas on Wednesday.

The excitement continues on Thursday, March 30, with a visit to the historic city of Cordoba, before a lace­making workshop on Friday in Torre del Mar.

The grand finale of the week will be on Saturday, April 1, with a party scheduled to take place from 5pm.

After a brief refreshment stop, the group arrived in Rute, which is renowned for its production of anís, a delicious Spanish liquor. Their first stop was a guided tour of the Anis museum, which housed a fascinating collection of ancient materials used to produce the iconic drink. Next, the group was treated to a tasting of different flavoured anís and gins, before an opportunity to purchase some bottles.

The group then headed to Iznajar. Nestled on a hill overlooking a vast reservoir on the Genil river, the village was a sight to behold. The group took some time to explore.

The group’s next trip will be to Loja in Granada, on Thursday, March 30.

Hoppy Easter hiking

Meaningyouarenevertoooldtofindlove;nevertoooldtoliveright;nevertoooldtolearn;and nevertoooldtobehappy.Ageisnotafactorintheequationofpassion.Itsorigincomesfrom Africa,thetimeframeisunknownbutisknownthroughoutAfricantribesandethnicgroups.

The Playas de Torre del Mar Sports Club has announced a thrilling hiking programme ,

the ‘Week of Trails and Mountains’. The two­day event coincides with Holy Week and will take participants on hiking routes through the picturesque towns of Canillas de Aceituno and Comares, where they can enjoy nature, sports, culture, and delicious local culinary treats. Tourism officials from the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Axarquia officially launched the event on Tuesday, March 21. Tourism representative Juan Peñas, threw his support behind the event saying

“along with the celebrations, traditions, and religious events that fill our towns, we are now adding outdoor sports as an alternative way to enjoy the holidays.” The Club’s President, Rafael Sánchez, explained that “with this activity, we want to showcase the Axarquia region as one of the best destinations for hiking and trekking in Malaga.”

The hikes will take place on Tuesday, April 4 and Friday, April 7 respectively and will both be moderate walks of nine kilometres.

“A woman is never old when it comes to the dance she knows.”

NEW LIFE: Eli settles into her new home in Sweden after being rescued in Axarquia.

Photo credit: SOS Animals Sverige (via Facebook)

Betty Henderson

THE Nerja branch of the Royal British Legion are preparing for their monthly lunch which is set to be held on Friday, March 31. The lunch will be held at the Nuevo Arenas Restaurant in La Herradura, where all are in for a royal treat with delicious meal options available.

Guests are invited to arrive at 1pm, before lunch is served from 1.30pm.

The menu features mouthwatering options including a home­ made poultry pate, grilled pork, and a tangy lemon mousse.

Guests can also enjoy wine and water throughout the meal, before a coffee to finish.

Legion lunch

can contact Kim at kim_bowe1@ hotmail.com to reserve their place.

Tickets are also still on sale for the group’s event of the year, their Spring Masquerade Ball.

The glitzy event is set to take place on Saturday, April 22 at the Caves Restaurant in Maro. Guests will tuck into a three ­ course meal and enjoy delightful entertainment from Ricky Lavazza and Laura Elen.

An artistic pilgrimage

The lunch costs €20 for guests and €19 for members of the RBL. Guests

Tickets cost €50 for guests and €45 for RBL members and are also available by contacting Kim Bowe.

Pioneer’s passion for patents

AN inventor from Torrox made national news on Saturday, March 18 for his incredible count of more than 100 patents. Eighty­two year­old Antonio Rico Vallena has taken the world by storm with his groundbreaking inventions which have primarily been purchased by Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Rico’s creations in the fields of construction and agriculture have been considered revolutionary in these industries. Among his many inventions are concrete manufacturing resources used in large­scale civil projects across the globe that have made production cheaper and cleaner. Rico has also created

a new building design system to keep toilets odour­free as well as an innovative ‘firewall’ device to fight forest fires. His latest water­saving invention could mean a significant breakthrough in the world of agriculture, potentially reducing water consumption by 50 per cent. Rico explained that designing inventions comes

naturally to him, “Wherever I see a problem, I take a closer look and try to find a solution, I’ve been doing this since I was 10 years old.” Undoubtedly, Rico is one of the greatest inventors in Spain, whose inventions are making a real difference across many sectors, improving the lives of many people worldwide.

THE Arts Society Nerja is continuing on its educational journey with a lecture that is sure to captivate and inspire. On Tuesday, March 28, the society is hosting a Decotta Law Lecture, about the artistic history of Santiago de Compostela, which will be delivered by Helen Sijsling. The lecture will take place in person at the Centro Cultural in Nerja, and online via Zoom, making it accessible to art enthusiasts all over the world.

The talk promises to cover the artistic history of Santiago de Compostela, a city in the northwest of Spain that is renowned for its stunning architecture and rich cultural heritage.

Sijsling’s lecture will take listeners on an ‘iconographic voyage into art and history’, exploring the many

ways in which art has played a role in shaping the cultural identity of Santiago. The lecture will also cover the intriguing topic of ‘How Saint James was used by politicians’, shedding light on the complex relationship between religion, politics, and art.

The event will start at 6pm. Visitors are welcome to join for a fee of €10, which can be purchased on the night from 5pm. More information is available online: https://www.thearts societynerja.com/join.php.

Helen will deliver a thought-provoking lecture

Photo credit: Helen Sijsling (via Facebook)

The Royal British Legion is preparing to hold its monthly lunch in La Herradura.

Photo credit: Royal British Legion Nerja (via Facebook)

AS cities across Spain cut down on car emissions, the DGT has begun issuing Environmental Quality Seal stickers to show whether vehicles are environmentally friendly. Some cities are now requiring these stickers to drive through them.

Our guide below tells you everything you need to know about the new scheme.

• What is the DGT Environmental Quality Seal?

The DGT Environmental Quality Seal is an instantly recognisable sticker that identifies the most environmentally friendly vehicles. There are two types of stickers: One for motorcycles and one for vehicles.

• What vehicles have the Environmental Quality Seal?

There are four quality seal categories based on the vehicle’s emission levels:

Zero emissions quality seal, blue. Applies to: Battery electric vehicles (BEV); Range­extended electric vehicles (REEV); Plug­in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) with a minimum range of 40 km; and fuel cell vehicles.

Eco­quality seal, green and blue. Applies to:

EXPLAINER: the DGT Environmental Quality Seal

from 2005.

Petrol vehicles must meet the Euro 3 standard and diesel vehicles must meet the Euro 4 and 5 standards.

• Where do vehicles need the Environmental Quality Seal?

person or online here: www.market. correos.es/ product/distinti vo­ambientaldgt

Correos is authorised by the DGT to issue its environmental quality seals and the sticker costs just €5 to purchase.

Plug­in hybrid vehicles with a range of less than 40 km; hybrid electric vehicles (HEV); natural gas vehicles; and natural gas (CNG and LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles.

C­quality seal, green. Applies to:

Lightweight petrol cars and

vans registered from January 2006; Lightweight diesel cars and vans registered from 2014; and heavy petrol or diesel vehicles with more than eight seats registered from 2014.

Petrol vehicles must meet the Euro 4, 5 and 6 standards and diesel vehicles must meet

the Euro 6 standard.

B­quality seal, yellow. Applies to:

Lightweight petrol cars and vans registered from January 2000; Lightweight diesel cars and vans registered from January 2006; and heavy petrol or diesel vehicles with more than eight seats registered

Spain’s new low­emission zones are in place in Madrid and Barcelona. Spanish motoring authorities in these cities require you to have the official DGT Environmental Quality Seal sticker on the rear window of a vehicle indicating its emission levels. You also have to register your vehicle to drive through these cities.

• How do I get the Environmental Quality Seal?

The easiest way to get the DGT Environmental Quality Seal is through Correos, or any other post office, either in­

First, find the relevant sticker for your vehicle or motorcycle and add it to your basket on the Correos website. You are required to submit your documentation including the registration certificate of the vehicle for which you are requesting the quality seal, and the ID of the vehicle owner or the person authorised to make the request. You will receive the sticker within 48 hours of your request and you will need to stick it on the lower­right corner of your windscreen or another visible part of the vehicle.

Correos is authorised by the DGT to issue its environmental quality seals and the sticker costs just €5 to purchase.

Shutterstock.com/WH_Pics

AS Spain’s community of English­speaking expatriates continues to thrive, so does the Euro Weekly News ; and due to overwhelming demand we are now expanding into the Costa Calida!

Yes, the Euro Weekly News is coming to Murcia and we are so looking forward to seeing you all from Thursday, March 30 onwards.

In its 25 ­ year history, the Euro Weekly News has constantly innovated, created and expanded to become Spain’s largest English guage newspaper. And now the paper you love is getting EVEN bigger!

Covering everywhere from Bolnuevo to San Pedro del Pinetar and Camposol to Cabo de Palos, the new Costa Calida edition will bring you, our valued readers, the same local and community news and information you already enjoy in the Euro Weekly News ’ six other editions.

Always growing

tion, as well as weekly national news on the issues that matter most to you.

With thousands of papers being distributed every week to the Costa Calida’s most popular areas, more of you will also have access to the columnists you love, from Leapy Lee to David Worboys and motoring expert Mark Slack.

Our expert team of local writers are also ready to hear from you about the stories you most want to share, so if you have news or an event you would like us to cover, contact editorial@euro weeklynews.com

To find out exactly where to pick up your copy, contact distribution@euro weeklynews.com.

English language community, Murcia is one of Spain’s highly popular areas with expatriates and tourists alike. From the

beauty of the Mar Menor to the splendour of Cartagena’s Roman past, this vibrant part of Spain

deserves its own spotlight. And the Euro Weekly News will be doing just that.

Expect a full local news sec ­

Or to get your business in front of tens of thousands of eyes, contact our expert advertising team at sales@euro weeklynews.com

Look out for the new Euro Weekly News Costa Calida edition on Thursday March 30!

Clearing your cache

YOU may have noticed that the Euro Weekly News’ website has got EVEN faster.

That’s because, as part of our constant expansion and improvements of the site, we moved to an even larger server on Monday, March 13.

This change means an improvement in usability for our millions of readers. However if you happened to be on the website as we moved servers you may have noticed a temporary error message coming up saying ‘server not available’.

If that was the case for you, and you have found this error message got stuck in your computer’s cache (internet memory), we wanted to set out the easy steps to clear this so you can access us again without issue.

In Google Chrome:

1. On your computer, open Chrome.

2. At the top right, click More.

3. Click More tools. Clear browsing data.

4. At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.

5. Next to ‘Cookies and other site data’ and ‘Cached images and files’, check the boxes.

6. Click Clear data.

In Firefox:

1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and select Preferences.

2. Select the Privacy & Security panel.

3. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data.

4. Remove the check mark in front of Cookies and Site Data.

5. With Cached Web Content check marked, click the Clear button.

In Safari:

1.Click on the Safari drop­down menu and select Preferences.

2. Click the Advanced tab. Select the Show Develop menu in menu bar checkbox and close the Preferences window.

3. Select the Develop drop­down menu. Click Empty Cache.

4. Note: You may want to also clear your browser history.

EWN radio star

ON Monday, March 20, the Euro Weekly News was live on air at one of Spain’s biggest stations, TRE, to discuss the upcoming launch of its latest paper, the Costa Calida­Murcia edition.

Meeting with afternoon show host Hannah Murray at the station’s Cancelada studios, Euro Weekly News Editorial Director Sally Underwood spoke about the new paper, when it was coming out, what it would offer and how you can get a copy.

Sally explained: “People have been asking us to do this for a very long time. We know there is a huge English ­ speaking community there and it is an under ­ represented region.

“We will be the only weekly English ­ language newspaper covering the region.”

Explaining why the Eu ­

ro Weekly News is choosing to launch the Costa Calida ­ Murcia edition now, Sally said: “It’s something we’d looked to do in 2020 but didn’t for obvious regions.

“This year it feels like the time is right for growth.

“We have a huge base of loyal clients who have been very supportive and our first edition will be 24

pages. We see that growing very quickly.”

The pair also discussed the phenomenal growth Spain has seen since the end of the pandemic, with many businesses saying 2022 was their best year ever.

Watch out for the new Costa Calida ­ Murcia edition coming out on the streets and online on Thursday, March 30.

If you have any further issues however, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@euroweeklynews.com.

SALLY AND HANNAH: Murray (right) interviewed EWN Editorial Director Sally.

AFGHANS who are desperately trying to escape the country after helping British forces during the war have been asked by the UK government to get approval documents from the Taliban before they can move to Britain, according to a national news outlet.

As per reports, people who applied for the Afghan Relocation and Assistance

Police Scheme were told by UK officials to provide their birth and marriage certificates in English and stamped by the Taliban gov­

ernment.

The UK´s Ministry of De­

THINK!

fence has also admitted that such practices have been ongoing after previously denying it, and said that it was wrong while issuing an apology for it.

As per estimates by the UK government, about 4,600 people are eligible for sanctuary in the UK under the scheme which also includes family members, who have not yet been moved to the UK.

THE UK government is targeting rural roads in a new campaign in a bid to prevent deaths and injuries among young drivers.

THINK! campaign urges drivers to think about the dangers of driving too fast for road conditions.

Drivers are being asked by road safety experts to be aware of their current speed, the area around them and the road conditions before they put their foot down on the accelerator. The campaign, “Is

pushing it worth it?” is targeted at young male drivers, as statistics show male drivers aged 17 to 24 are 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 or over.

Research findings also

Unreal request Barber busted Heartbroken fans

show that 60 per cent of all serious and fatal collisions involving young male car drivers were on rural roads.

Safety experts raise further concerns as less than half (43 per cent) of young men consider exceeding the speed limit to be unacceptable, while over two­thirds (68 per cent) see drink driving as unacceptable and over half (52 per cent) think using a mobile without handsfree is unacceptable.

GINO D’ÁCAMPO has quit the foodie adventure show, Gordon, Gino and Fred, that has been running for five years, saying “It causes a lot of problems for me,” citing scheduling conflicts for his decision.

The popular ITV show follows chefs Gordon Ramsay, Gino and First Dates star Fred Sirieix who visit various countries across the globe, where they sample local cuisine and explore local culture.

However, the Family Fortunes presenter, 46, announced that getting the stars

together has been a little difficult this time round.

“Last week I decided not to film any more Gordon, Gino and Fred Road Trip, the reason is simple, nothing to do with Gordon and Fred ­ the friendship is very strong” he said in a video on social media.

“It’s just because we can’t get the dates together.”

Fans have spoken out on various social media platforms confirming their disappointment at the stars decision.

A BARBER from Wales who has been famous for winning several awards has been arrested by the police in connection with dealing drugs in the UK.

Anthony Hancock was detained by the police in Swansea after he left his car and tried to run away.

A local media outlet stated that the 37year­old is a well­known barber in the city and has also won the Welsh Men’s Style Awards in 2013, aside from coming third in the British Barber Awards in 2018.

The hearing for his sentence was held at

Swansea Crown Court, where the police stated that they tried to pull over “Hancock’s black Ford Focus, but he accelerated away at speed”.

Officials said that Hancock was eventuallydetained by the police, who later found a burner phone, cocaine and a knife.

Hancock pleaded guilty to intending to supply “Class A drugs, two counts of offering to supply Class B and C drugs, and possession of a bladed article”.

Slow down.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Anne Frank

Image: Helen Hotson / Shutterstock.com

30% of the world’s researchers are women.

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Your choice

A DANISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION survey found that more parents are giving children gender-neutral names, in some cases to allow them to choose their gender as they grow up. Approximately 6,300 new-borns received genderneutral names in 2021, an 8.6 per cent rise on 2019, Denmark’s Statistics Office revealed.

THE NETHERLANDS

Buried treasure

ELEVENTH CENTURY gold pendants and 39 12th century silver coins discovered in Hoogwoud in North Holland are now on display at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden. They were found in 2021 by Lorenzo Ruijter, 27, who has been a metal detectorist since he was 10.

BELGIUM

New status

A DRAFT law now officially recognises Buddhism in Belgium, paving the way for federal funding, official delegates and school lessons, following a 2006 application from the Belgian Buddhist Union. Austria is at present the only other European Union country where Buddhism is a formally accepted religion.

GERMANY

Too slow

EVA HOGL, Germany’s parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, said that slow defence procurement was hampering the Bundeswehr’s much-needed upgrade. In a 170-page report to parliament Hogl predicted that it would take 50 years to complete if it continued “at its current sluggish pace.”

FRANCE

Foul play

POLICE called to the French Canicross championships, where dogs run in tandem with athletes, were confronted with three dead dogs and another that was seriously ill. All had eaten meatballs later found to contain poison, according to a statement issued by the Nimes public prosecutor.

NORWAY

Gas-fired

GOVERNMENT-OWNED Petoro, the company that represents Norwegian interests in oil and gas contracts, made a net profit of Kr 539 billion (€46.6 billion) last year, more than double 2021’s amount. Higher production in several fields and the Snohvit gas field’s return to production bolstered the results.

FINLAND

Heading out

FORTY-SEVEN per cent of international students would leave Finland on completing their studies, they told a recent survey. Thirtynine per cent of foreign professionals also said they did not intend to remain, citing difficulties in accessing networks and family members’ problems in adjusting to life in Finland.

IRELAND Home and away

IRELAND will hold a referendum in November to delete references to a woman’s place being in the home from its Constitution. Despite amending the 86-year-old Constitution in recent years to permit abortion and same-sex marriage “outmoded” references to women’s roles remained, the government said.

ITALY

Second chance

ITALY’S highest court ordered a retrial for two young Californians convicted of stabbing a police officer in Rome in 2019. The defence argued that the plainclothes carabinieri didn’t identify themselves during an sting operation to recover a backpack that the Americans stole during a failed drug deal.

PORTUGAL

Homing in

EMIGRANTS sent €3.9 billion euros to Portugal last year, the largest volume of remittances ever recorded and a 5 per cent increase on 2021, the Bank of Portugal said. Most came Portuguese residents in France, who sent home €1.06 billion, as well as those in Switzerland who also transferred €1.06 billion.

UKRAINE

EU help

THE European Commission announced on March 16 the launch of a programme that will provide "inspiration and practical help" for rebuilding Ukraine. together with the country's own organisations. This follows on from the Kyiv meeting between the commissioners and Ukraine's government on February 2.

SWEDEN

Royal return

PRINCESS MADELEINE and her BritishAmerican husband Chris O’Neill plan to return to Sweden with their three children in August after having left in 2015. British residents wished him luck when having to apply for his residence permit “like other non-EU citizens planning a move to Sweden.”

The ‘wrong’ type of touris alcohol is harming Spa

La

been see

DESPITE Maria Dolores Corujo later saying “you are and always will be welcome here,” media across the world picked up on the news in March that Spanish islands were tiring of ‘drunken’ British tourists. Spanish travellers reportedly said they had ‘observed some pretty bad behaviour’ from British tourists both in the Canary Islands and other parts of the country.

But does Spain’s thriving hospitality industry really attract a particular type of tourist? And if so, is Spain’s sun, sea and sangria reputation causterm problems?

Here the Euro Weekly News looks at whether Lanzarote’s president has a point, or whether accusations that Spain’s bars encourage tourists to drink to excess are completely unfounded.

As the world’s second most visited country, Spain attracts millions of tourists a year, adding €97 billion a year to its economy and being responsible for more than two million jobs, according to the country’s ofiice for statistics (INE).

Among Spain’s obvious drawsgreat weather, stunning scenery, and rich history ­ it is true to say that food and drink are both substantially lower here than in the UK, with the average British pint costing £3.95 (€4.49) compared to Spain’s €2.50.

Spain’s tapas and menu del dia bargains also make eating out considerably cheaper here.

But does any of this mean Brits actually drink more abroad? And even if they do, is it the responsibility of bar owners to police this themselves?

In the 1990s and early 2000s a familiar scene for many in Spain’s most popular areas were touts lining the pavements offering free drinks on entry or bargain drink deals. But the Euro Weekly News has spoken to the

head of one of Spain’s most successful hospitality groups who says this kind of behaviour from businesses is rare, calling Lanzarote’s statements about Brits, “extremely offensive”.

Lina Hodgkins from the Linekers Group in Marbella said, “I find it quite offensive that everybody says British tourists are just drunks.”

Hodgkins who works as a marketing manager for the group that runs several famous bars including Portside, Babilonia and Bijou, added that, tourists drink roughly the same amount as they do in their own countries, saying “when tourists are in their own countries or towns, they are still drinking alcohol.”

She also claimed that popular areas, including Marbella, do not create the sort of culture of cheap drinks and club touts that areas like Magaluf, Mallorca, were once famous for. She said: “in Marbella we don’t do that,” stating that “I am not saying that in other European destinations, they don’t do it.”

She said “We don’t offer free drinks, it’s the media that makes these things up just for stories,” adding, “why would any bar offer free drinks.

“It’s ridiculous and I find it offensive because it’s not true,” stated Hodgkins.

“Whether you go to a bar, or a restaurant or the beach, you drink, it’s a part of our holiday culture,” Hodgkins said, adding, “And just because you have a drink on a holiday doesn’t mean that you are a drunk.”

Hodgkins added that that the number of tourists coming to Marbella from other European countries has also increased over the past few years.

Meanwhile, Jackie Fish, bar manager at Torrox bar Los Amigos in Axarquia, told the EWN: “I don’t think it’s true that the British get drunk more

A recent announcement by the president of

quality tourist’ on the island, has

st: Is Lanzarote right that ain’s tourism industry?

than other nationalities or that bars encourage this behaviour. Our bar certainly doesn’t accept that sort of behaviour.

“Yes, people get drunk but we don’t make them drink and if anything untowards kicks off they will be asked to leave.”

Paul, who runs the Emerald Isle in the Costa Blanca South, agreed, saying: “We at the Emerald Isle have been running our hospitality business for almost 25 years in this part of Spain and have catered to people of all nationalities during that time.

“I can only speak from our own specific experience but the area we are in is very family­orientated and we have not witnessed any of the behaviours reported recently in the media.

“Of course, there will be examples of anti­social behaviour in certain areas of Spain due to the influx of tourists every year, but this particular area is occupied by many families who have made their lives here, is very safe and incidents of anti ­ social behaviour are few and far between.”

Heidi, who runs Black Flame in Moraira, told the Euro Weekly News : “We don’t get customers like that. Ninety per cent are British, whether holidaymakers or they live here, and on St Patrick’s Day for example, they won’t be loud or rowdy. They’re just there to have a nice time.”

Alain, from Universal Lounge Bar in Albir, the Costa Blanca North, argued that the accusations by Lanzarote’s president shouldn’t be levelled at one nationality in particular. He said: “In the 15 years running the Universal Lounge Bar in Albir, and having over 150 beers we’ve never had any problems with whatever nationality with bad behaviour or drunk situations.

“And here we have 96 nationalities living together with the third biggest group of British origin.”

Several parts in Spain have now an­

nounced plans to cap the number of tourists with some even introduc ing tough regulations that target drunken behaviour.

The Balearic Islands, which have historically been party tourism hotspots, last year imposed rules that banned ‘happy hours, pub crawls, two ­ for ­ one drink offers, and the sale of alcohol in shops be tween 9:30pm and 8am’.

A drink limit was also imposed in several resorts in Magaluf, El Are nal and Ibiza.

One of Mallorca’s most famous party resorts, Playa de Palma also reportedly banned people from wearing football shirts in restau rants.

The government in the Balearic Is lands, which includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, al so declared a cap on tourists last month, before the announcement made by Lanzarote. However, until the president of Lanzarote’s state ment that British had been singled out so explicitly.

Before the announcement, officials claimed that the reason for this is due to extremely high number of tourists.

“The number of visits reached this year is a maximum that should not be exceeded but should tend to decrease. There must be a clear trend towards the reduction of tourist places,” said Iago Negueruela, Balearic Islands tourism minister.

While a crackdown on irresponsible drink touting and cheap deals can only help everyone ­ businesses and tourists alike ­ the hospitality industry is firm that excess drinking is not limited to Britons.

And with Brits contributing around more than €17 billion of Spain’s tourism income each year up to the pandemic, Lanzarote may be wise to take note of this.

anzarote over a shift in focus towards a ‘higher en by many as an insult to British tourists.

FINANCE

Not convinced

STAT OF WEEK €88 million

was paid out in dividends last year to Juan Roig, president of the family-owned Mercadona supermarket chain in which he has a majority 50.66 per cent shareholding.

BUSINESS EXTRA Changing tastes

THE UK’s Competitions and Market Authority expressed concerns regarding Asda’s £600 million (€683.9 million) deal to take over 132 Co ­ op petrol forecourts, Warned that the deal could mean higher prices or less choice for consumers, Asda was given five working days to address the regulator’s doubts.

Iberdrola posts

THE board of Spain’s energy multinational Iberdrola is set to re ­ elect Juan Ignacio Sanchez Galan as its chairman until at least 2027, when he will be 76, while ratifying Armando Martinez as CEO. Both appointments will be formalised at the shareholder’ meeting in Bilbao on April 28.

NHS info

DOCTORS will sue the UK government over plans that could hand the medical records of millions of NHS patients to Denver­based Palantir, which makes FBI and CIA surveillance software. The £480 million (€447 million) privatelyrun database would include all health information held by the NHS.

More employees

THIRTY PER CENT of Spanish companies plan staff increases during 2023’s second quarter, a further 20 per cent foresee reductions but others expect to remain the same.

Businesses located in Andalucia, Extremadura and Canaries were the most optimistic, with 22 per cent taking on more employees.

Read it up

BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING, buoyed by demand for fantasy novels and academic digital resources, expected full­year profits comfortably exceeding forecasts. The group envisaged a pre ­ tax profit of around £30 million (€34.2) for the year ending on February 28, instead of the forecast £26.9 million (€30.6). .

Best-ever year for Inditex

Linda Hall

MARTA ORTEGA’S first year as Inditex president brought a record profit and income.

The fashion empire, which was founded by her father Amancio Ortega, owns the Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Oysho brands and reported a net profit of €4.1 billion over its last fiscal year, a 27 per cent increase on 2021.

Even after a 5 per cent price increase introduced last year to offset rising costs, in­store and online turnover grew by 17.5 per cent to €32.6 billion, the company announced.

These results arrived at the end of a year of change, following the departure last April of Pablo Isla who took

BRITAIN’S government needs to help the UK’s car industry compete internationally in electric vehicle (EV) production.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) highlighted the fierce competition from other countries, as the US and European Union launch large­scale initiatives.

The warning came after reports that the Chinese car manufacturer BYD had ruled out Britain for its European production site.

Reduced energy costs, prompt funding for green technology projects and extended free trade agreements were some of the ac­

Merger boost

MASMOVIL’S revenue and profits enjoyed a boost last year ahead of its planned merger with Orange.

Earnings totalled approximately €2.9 billion in 2022, an increase of 17 per cent on 2021, while income from services increased by 19 per cent to €2.6 billion. At the same time MasMovil was also able to reduce its debt by €500 million while its portfolio of clients continued to grow with the addition of 800,000 new lines. Of these, 227,000 corresponded to broadband connections and 565,000 to mobile clients.

over from Amancio Ortega as Inditex president in 2011. His place was taken by non­executive president Marta Ortega and Oscar Garcia Maceiras, the company’s CEO.

Despite its higher overheads, the company’s exit from Russia and Chi­

na’s continuing Covid restrictions, last year was the best in the company’s history, easily overtaking Inditex’s €3.6 billion profits and €28.3 billion turnover in pre­pandemic 2019.

Inditex nevertheless surprised investors with a hike in capital expenditure from €1.1 billion in 2021 to last year’s €1.6 billion, higher than the market had foreseen and responsible for a 3 per cent fall in shares.

“It is the right thing, to keep on investing for future growth,” Maceiras insisted.

Zara led the group with a pre­tax 38.5 per cent compared with the previous year, although the pre­tax profit fell at Oysho and Massimo Dutti, by a respective 12 and 10 per cent.

It’s time to compete

lion) Inflation Reduction Act and the European Union’s Green Deal Industrial Plan, both of which included measures boosting EV production.

ALCOPOPs and CDs have been dropped from the monthly update of the cost of living in Britain.

Together with compact digital cameras, they are no longer included in the ONS’ typical shopping basket which is used to measure the annual inflation rate.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has dropped them following its annual review of spending habits in the UK which takes into account changing tastes and habits while ensuring that the official cost of living yardstick is as accurate as possible.

The three items were replaced by electric bicycles, frozen berries for making smoothies, and home security devices.

Tax breaks

SPAIN’S taxpayers can expect to save between €9 and €550 on their 2022 tax returns.

tions included in SMMT’s plans.

The trade body has launched a Green Automotive Transformation Strategy for the motor industry, calling for more openhanded subsidies and less red tape for proposed battery­pro­

duction schemes.

Its plan would position the UK as one of the world’s most competitive locations for advanced automotive manufacturing, Hawes argued.

It was vital to react to the US’s $369 billion (€343.7 bil­

Covid’s aftermath

COINCIDING with the third anniversary of the first Covid lockdown, the Bank of Spain warned that the pandemic’s effect on the nation’s health could also have an impact on the economy.

A survey assessing the economic effects of a possible overall decline in the general health of Spain’s population concluded that this could lead to an increase in health spending. This in turn would create the need for more health professionals, the report’s authors Samuel Hurtado y Mario Izquierdo said.

“Although at present this is very difficult to evaluate it could be a factor to take into account, together with the problem of an ageing society,” they said.

“Should this dynamic continue or even increase, it could be decisive for the economy's potential output in the medium to long term.”

Fully­electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for almost a third of all UK­built cars last year, worth £10 billion (€11.4 billion) in exports, Hawes said.

He added“The UK boasts a firm foundation of EV production, with outstanding research and a highly skilled workforce, we must not squander these advantages.”

On the up

SEAT is out of the red with a 2022 operating profit of €33 million, compared with €233 million pre­tax losses in 2021 and €339 million in 2020. This was possible thanks to Cupra, Seat’s high­performance road car branch whose 179,632 units represented 40.6 per cent of last year’s global production. Two­thirds were Formentor models, produced at Seat’s Martorell ( Barcelona) branch. Seat and Cupra sales of 386,000 vehicles fell by 18.1 per cent worldwide last year although production contracted by 0.8 per cent, with 420,000 units.

The semiconductor crisis was responsible for the downturn, as Volkswagen prioritised microchips for brands generating the biggest profit margins.

The changes are the result of adjustments made by the central government for incomes below an annual €21,000 and the updating of autonomous regions’ minimum rates.

Taxpayers earning between €16,000 and €20,000 will benefit most, with savings of between €540 and €300, depending on region where they live, while those earning more than an annual €100,000 will, on average, pay €150 less.

However, those on €30,000 will hardly benefit, with discounts of less than €10.

Freehold deal

SAINSBURY’S is taking full ownership of investment vehicles Highbury and Dragon in which it holds a 49 per cent stake.

It will pay £430.9 million (€491.5 million) for Supermarket Income REIT’s 51 per cent holding in Highbury and Dragon, created in 2000 and comprising freeholds of 26 stores that it leases.

Britain’s largest chain after Tesco with 600 supermarkets and more than 800 convenience stores, will acquire the 21 premises that it previously rented from Supermarket Income REIT and which will continue to operate as Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

WORLDWIDE EMPIRE: Zara store in Battersea

EV OUTPUT: Charging ahead (SMMT) said

Photo credit: Inditex

Photo credit Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

DOW JONES

Energy plan

CENTRICA, which owns British Gas, announced that it would extend the lives of two nuclear power stations in Heysham (Lancashire) and Hartlepool (County Durham) until 2026. It hopes in this way to “strengthen the UK’s energy security in uncertain times”, Centrica chief executive Chris O’Shea said.

An all-rounder

VOLKSWAGEN gave a preview in Barcelona on March 15 of its ID.2all prototype, an electric car that will be produced at the Martorell plant from 2025 onwards. Priced at under €25,000 it would be “as roomy as a Golf and as affordable as a Polo”, VW said at the presentation.

Pay scale

JUNIOR doctors will challenge the government over pay by pointing out that they could earn more at Pret a Manger. Pret employees’ April rise – their third in 12 months ­ will bring them up to £14.10 (€16.06) an hour, compared with the £14.09 (€16.05) doctorss earn during their first year.

Online fans

A SURVEY by Adevinta, which owns several web portals, found that 97 per cent of those interviewed said they had bought or sold products online. A further 67 per cent said that they did so habitually, an increase of 16 per cent on a similar Adevinta survey in 2021.

Losing out

MORRISONS suffered a £1.5 billion (€1.7 billion) loss during its first full year in private­equity ownership, the supermarket chain’s latest results revealed. The grocery retailer was bought in October 2021 by the US private equity firm, Clayton, Dubilier and Rice for (CD&R) for £7 billion (approximately €8 billion).

Roig states his case

MERCADONA had a net profit of €718 million last year, 5.6 per cent more than in 2021, while its €31 billion turnover rose by 11 per cent thanks to inflation.

Speaking to the media on March 14 as the family ­ owned company announced its 2022 results, its president Juan Roig admitted that Mercadona had put up prices tremendously.

“But if we hadn’t, there would have been an unbelievable production chain disaster,” Roig said.

“Making a profit is a very good thing, just so long as it’s shared between employees, suppliers, clients and society,” he added. “A business is not synonymous with capital.”

The price increases could have been worse, Roig maintained. The company “had given its all” to mitigate the effect of the higher

OBR omens

prices on consumers, acting as a retaining wall between the value chain and the public.

Mercadona raised its prices by an average of 10 per cent in 2022 but outgoings grew by 12 per cent, Roig said, and the 2 per cent difference of €600 million was absorbed by the company.

Referring to the possibility of creating a “shopping basket” like that of France, Roig did not mince his words.

“Capping prices isn’t possible, it’s a pointless gesture, like wanting water than doesn’t make you wet,” he declared.

“Measures like these only have a negative impact on the quality of the products.”

Tin mining revival

BRITAIN’S mining industry was founded on tin, long before coal fuelled the country’s industrial revolution.

Although Cornwall still comes to mind when thinking of tin, the world’s principal producers are currently Chinese companies that include Yunnan Tin, Yunnan Chengfeng and Minsur.

Like copper and lithium, tin is fundamental to the technology sector’s growth and the transition to a lowcarbon economy.

“It has seen very strong price increases since early 2021,” said Richard Williams, chief executive of Canadian mineral exploration company Cornish Metals.

In May 2022 the company announced that it had secured £40.5 million (€46.3 million) in funding which it would use to drain its South Crofty mine in Pool, located between Camborne and Redruth, where production was first recorded in 1592 and continued until 1998.

It will also construct a treatment plant for the mine water and complete a feasibility study.

South Crofty, which has the world’s fourth­largest tin deposit, has now turned up attractive tin grades from newly­explored areas on the company’s land.

THE Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) warned that Britons faced their worst decline in living standards since records began in the 1950s.

The Treasury watchdog pointed out that they also bore the greatest tax burden since the Second World War.

The OBR added that the economy was on track to shrink by 0.2 per cent this year, despite Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s announcement that the UK would avoid technical recession. He would meet debt targets only by a narrow margin after the big childcare outlay and freezing fuel duty, OBR said.

Down to earth

VIRGIN ORBIT, founded by billionaire Richard Branson, has halted operations and furloughed stuff as it seeks a funding lifeline.

“Discovering a new highgrade zone in the middle of a historic mining district is a tremendous outcome, and again demonstrates the exploration potential of the region,” Cornish Metals chief executive Richard Williams said, following the most recent set of drill results.

New exec appointed

JOHN LEWIS and Waitrose have appointed a group chief executive.

Former Hovis and Burger King executive Nish Kankiwala, currently a John Lewis Partnership non­executive director, takes up the new post on March 27.

The news arrived as the staff­owned business prepared to announce its second­ever full­year loss, with employees missing out on their annual bonus for the second time in three years.

The group is expected to report an annual pre­tax loss before one­offs of ap­

proximately £50 million (€57.14 million) compared with last year’s £181 million (€206.9 million), mainly due to Waitrose’s problems.

Retail director Naomi Simcock and Waitrose James Bailey who previously reported directly to the partnership’s chairwoman, Sharon White, will now report to Kankiwala, as will five other directors.

These include Finance director, Berangere Michel, and Transformation and Technology officer Zaka Mian, who was engaged in November 2022.

Staff layoffs at Ford

FORD ESPAÑA announced staff reductions that will affect 1,144 employees at its Almussafes (Valencia) plant.

The company explained that this labour adjustment had been included in the restructuring of European operations made necessary by the transition to electric vehicles.

Ford also assured the Almussafes employees in an internal memo that it was “resiz­

ing” its Spanish workforce but intended to “work together and in a constructive manner” with the unions to minimise the impact on employees and the local community.

At present 600 Kuga models come off the assembly line each day, as well as 300 Transit vans and 200 of the S­Max and Galaxy cars that Asmussafes will cease producing in April. The future of the factory’s engine section is also uncertain.

The California­ based satellite launch company is putting all activities on temporary hold with only a skeleton team still working. Employees learnt at a March 15 staff meeting that remaining personnel would be put on unpaid furlough, although they could cash in annual leave.

The news follows Virgin Orbit’s failed attempt to launch the first satellite from UK soil at Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay last January. Putting them on furlough would buy time to finalise a new investment plan, the company’s chief executive, Dan Hart, told staff.

No thanks

FIFTY­FIVE THOUSAND people in Spain, the majority in Andalucia, Cataluña and Madrid, ignored bequests last year.

The General Council of Notaries (CGN), which processed 355,000 inheritance claims in 2022, revealed that rejections had risen to 15.6 per cent.

The CGN’s spokeswoman, Maria Teres Barea, attributed this to the “difficult” economic situation, as heirs were reluctant to pay death duties or accept a legacy burdened with debts, she said. In other cases, beneficiaries felt that it would be unfair to accept a bequest left by a distant relative they hardly knew.

JUAN ROIG: Mercadona president and majority shareholder

Photo credit: Juan Roig Alfonso

SOUTH CROFTY: Tin production first recorded in 1592

PROMOTING women in business and supporting International Woman’s Day is of course thoroughly commended by this ol boy. As a Spiritualist, with a firm belief in re incarnation, I’m pretty convinced, having materialised in female form so many times, my belief in equality knows no bounds.

Having to exist in a male dominated society, which doesn’t recognise or promote female equivalence in any form is of course extremely difficult; something I discovered when I experienced that exact situation some years ago. I can assure you trying to live a normal life in a male dominated environment can be very bemusing and often extremely perilous. During my eight years in Saudi Arabia, I found my respect for the ladies put me in all sorts of problems.

The only working girls were in fact the prostitutes, mainly Ethiopian, who would walk down the streets heavily burqa and hijabed with their ‘availability’ adverts being nothing more than a large dan ­

A woman’s life

gling bunch of keys! The affection of my life for some time was actually an attractive English Saudia airways hostess.

She would wait for me in a secluded part of the Saudi airport and when I drove up, quickly enter the car and literally throw herself on to the floor next to the passenger door, where she would stay curled up a ball until I got into the drive of my apartment. No moonlit walks or romantic restaurants to look forward to on these visits; all completely against the law, unless you carried a letter of parental (father) permission!

On one occasion however I did decide to throw caution to the wind and find us a secluded beach. As the Saudi desert reaches down to the Red Sea, the ‘beach’ actually goes on for nearly 2,000 kilometres, so after around half an hour’s drive over some rough terrain I decided we had gone far enough to find a little privacy.

With no habitation or inhabitants in sight we were soon on our towels and splayed out in our brief cos­

NO LAUGHING MATTER OUR VIEW

tumes to enjoy the sun.

After about half an hour I suddenly caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. Carefully peering around I soon observed, standing on top of a few of the small sand dunes that surrounded our spot, a number of swarthy looking young Arabic men, all attired in grubby thobes, unmoving and staring fixedly at us. We were actually suddenly in a very menacing situation.

Miles from anywhere, in a desert area that had, according to rumours, already been used to ‘lose’ a number of missing Filipino Airline girls and there we were, a foreign male, laying there with a bikini clad Western girl, already considered second class trash by our hosts, miles from anywhere.

We were in trouble. Are the ladies going to respect an old boy that utterly believes in female equality and lived to tell the tale? Find out next week.

BY the time this article is published the world should have a better idea of how much former UK prime minister Boris Johnson knew about lockdown rule breaking at Number 10.

Partygate, the issue that has rumbled on seemingly for years, shone a light on one thing at least; an us and them attitude between some of our leaders and the general public.

Boris claimed he has solid evidence that he was not aware that birthday celebrations and others at No 10 broke the rules but at this stage is there any level of evidence he could show which would change the public’s opinion of him?

Regardless of whether the Parliamentary Select Committee he appears in front of judges Boris harshly or not, stories and images of Downing Street officials sharing birthday cake, drinking wine and taking drives across the country ‘to test their eyesight’ will remain with the public for a long time.

Anyone who lost a loved one during Covid, or whose business struggled while the world went into lockdown, knows this is no laughing matter.

No matter how hard the government tries to make light of it.

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

IS it because most of us cannot get our tongues around foreign words that we have to invent names of cities by translation into our own language? In Spanish and French, London becomes Londres, pronounced in accordance with the relevant language’s requirements. Mysteriously, the English feel more comfortable adding a superfluous ‘s’ to Lyon and Marseille (as written) before considering the pronunciation. Even French airports can handle New York on their departure boards, but not the Spanish ones. Nueva York!

Fair enough! The same applies to the names of countries. España becomes Spanien and Deutschland becomes Alemaña. But what about the names of people?

The English­speaking media has never referred to Emeritus King Juan Carlos as John Charles. After all, even in his prime, Spain’s monarch was never a famous Welsh footballer. Likewise the

GAME OF THE NAME

Not Cary Cooper! At school an amenable classmate of mine had the unusual but suitable nickname of Good. This was Mike Evans. The world’s top expert on avalanches seems too appropriately named to be true: Henry Schniewind. This is in stark contrast to the white female Scottish member of the SNPKirsty Blackman.

name of the current King Felipe is not Philip; he is respectfully known and referred to as Felipe.

Then, why does the Spanish press not grant the same respect to the British royal family? The late Queen was Elizabeth II and not Isabel II. Prince Harry was born Henry Charles Albert David; we have no Prince Enrique in California, there is no Prince Guillermo in London (or Londres) and certainly no King Carlos III. On the other hand, as far as I am aware, England’s

football captain has not appeared in Spanish media as Enrique Kane. Why?

Names have always fascinated me. And on my travels I have encountered some interesting ones, most of them English. Some are just meaningless, such as Grubbidore, Terdifer, Postlethwaite and Earwicker. And then the monosyllabic Popp, Bang, Huke and Jumps. Yes, Jimmy Jumps! Far less amusing, there was a morose character in our Canadian office

named Joe Starling.

The ones that I like are those that pose the question: how did they come about and why were they applied to the original ancestors? Like Danny Grewcock and Dominic Waghorn. And Ramsbottom, of course! The name Belcher suggests a distant granddad was in the habit of eating bullfrogs and giving a throaty expression of his appreciation.

The founder of The Entertainer toy retailing group is Gary Grant.

I always thought there was a Greek flavour to the beautiful voice of Nana Moussaka. The Dutch master Rip van Winkle used to fall asleep in front of his easel. Sorry, this is getting silly. Almost as silly as the name of 13­year old Alexander Hugh George Cholmondeley, Earl of Rocksavage, whose mother appears to be dating our future King William ­ not Guillermo!

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1-O LINEKER!

YES, it was a sport blackout ­ and aliens landing from space might have been bemused to find the BBC facing an existential crisis over a retired footballer’s recent tweet criticising Government’s asylum policy.

But then the BBC’s faced a number of controversies, hasn’t it? Most recently, criticism of its impartiality and independence following the appointment of Richard Sharp as chairman. Sharp's close ties to the Conservative Party (helping Boris Johnson with a dodgy loan) raised concerns about his ability to remain impartial and independent in his new role.

But perhaps the organisation’s most serious controversy in recent years was the Martin Bashir scandal. In 1995, Bashir, a journalist working for its flagship news program, Panorama, secured an interview with Princess Diana that became one of the most watched television events in history. However, in 2021, it was revealed that Bashir had used deceptive tactics to secure the interview, including falsifying bank statements and lying to Diana's brother, Charles Spencer. The revelations led to widespread criticism of the organisation and calls for accountability.

Then there was the criticism the BBC faced over its handling of the scandal involving Jimmy Savile who was posthumously revealed to have sexually abused hundreds of children

and adults over several decades. Critics argued that the BBC, which had employed Savile for many years, had turned a blind eye to his behaviour and failed to take action to protect vulnerable people.

Another controversy that has also plagued the BBC involved allegations of pay inequality. In 2017, it was revealed that many of its highest­paid presenters were men, leading to accusations of gender bias and discrimination. The controversy led to the resignation of several high­profile female presenters like Carrie Gracie and Jane Garvey.

In addition to these scandals, the BBC has also suffered from the loss of key presenters. Notable departures include Jeremy Clarkson, fired from its flagship motoring show, Top Gear, after a physical altercation with a producer, Chris Evans, who stepped down as the host of its flagship breakfast show, Radio 2 Breakfast Show, after just one year and Fiona Bruce, who quit her role as presenter of "Antiques Roadshow" in 2020. These departures certainly raised concerns about the organisation's ability to retain top talent and to continue to deliver high­quality programming.

Despite these controversies and challenges, the BBC remains one of the most im­

portant and influential broadcasters in the world. It continues to produce, generally speaking, a wide range of high­quality content, including news, current affairs, drama and entertainment, and remains a trusted source of information for millions around the world.

But looking to the future, it faces several significant challenges, including increasing competition from streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, changing audience habits and ongoing pressure to remain financially sustainable.

Overall, while the BBC has faced significant problems and crises in recent years, its future success will undoubtedly depend not only on its ability to remain true to its core values of impartiality, quality and innovation but also on its ability to adapt to a fast changing world.

But above all, BBC, cut the controversies and scandals – just TELL the story, don’t be it!

Nora Johnson’s 11 critically acclaimed psychological crime thrillers (www.nora­johnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99;£0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

David

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

Dominic Waghorn was glad to see her while Danny Grewcock was getting excited.

Photo Credits: Pinterest and express and star

Nora Johnson’s

Nora’s latest thriller.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

St Patrick’s Day LETTERS

IT was great to see so many events go on along the coast, it was a sea of green and Guinness hats around me. The laughter, the music, the fun. How it is great to be Irish on St Patrick’s Day. I wish there were more parades and activities but hopefully that will just come with time. The events obviously differ depending on what region you are in but wow did it seem to go well in Benalmadena. The Irish Association did really well to organise that, my cousin lives on the Costa del Sol and gosh was I jealous. I know where I’ll be going next year!

Susy, Mallorca

Mother’s Day

I HAD such a great Mother’s Day and the fact that it coincidentally fell on Spanish Father’s Day, how great to be able to celebrate both parents on the same day! Great for celebration purposes, killing two birds with one stone, but my wallet felt it. We are originally from Birmingham and moved over here in ‘98 but we like to celebrate both UK and Spanish holidays. Tt can get a bit confusing at times but it is good so we’re in tune with home and the local culture.

Tony, Birmingham

Driving licences

I CAN DRIVE AGAIN!!!! Nobody understands how excited I am that I can drive again. I can’t wait for the trips to the other regions bringing my dog and taking her out on the beaches. Living in the campo is great, but with no real way of getting down and going places you can be restricted when you don’t have a car. Hopefully this process is nice, easy and simple... wouldn’t it be nice. Time to get the licence out of the safe and exchange it over. I wonder how different it will look in comparison to the UK one...

With love, Julie

Rental prices

WITH the rental prices going up no wonder young people are finding it difficult to move out and go to university with the 8 per cent increase here in Spain. Over a year I know how much it is affecting me and it is a genuine worry I have for my daughter. Her dream is to study in Madrid and by studying it also means living and I don’t know how it is going to work out. We need more help for the young ones studying, they should all be given the opportunity to study, go to the university that they have been accepted to and just study ­ not have to work. But I am afraid that is what Ellie might have to do. Has anyone got any advice?

An expat not wanting to say bye.

The weather!

I CAN’T believe how spectacular the weather has been over the last few weeks and if anyone is reading and trying to figure out when to come to Spain, book your tickets now! I am getting photos and videos, my Facebook is filled with pictures of the snow back home but here it is gorgeous! I can’t get over it. It’s 22 degrees and getting higher. I am excited for my tan to come back and to be able to swim in the pool and sea. That is something I will say though and be warned the pools and sea are still a bit nippy.

Betty

The Mediterranean Diet

AFTER reading that article last week I totally agree, the lifestyle, food and more is something that has helped me a lot. I was two stone heavier in the UK, rarely ever got out and it was too cold to walk throughout the winter months, while over here it is the complete opposite. I have a quality of life over here and I am able to do and experience things I never would have thought possible. I go out, I am walking all the time and I have new friends.

Mary

Investment in Spain

THE amount of FDI sent into Spain is amazing and I think this is something that should really be taken into consideration. The likes of Marbella being called the Golden Mile isn’t for nothing and the fact that there is constant and consistent investment says a lot and I think that the close­by neighbourhoods are what will be built up next. Of course, people can say and do whatever they like about things, but I think I will be putting some of my funds into a nice flat for me and the missus and even if we don’t see anything out of it well hopefully the kids do.

Thoughtful thinking from Jo

Dropping off

WELL we always say nodding off over here and its typical for me to nod off to sleep in less than five minutes and apparently that means I am sleep deprived. I just sleep when I can and I think I do get the recommended hours I can. You know how people say about being something in a past life, well I must have been an email that slept an awful lot, Sloth perhaps? Even after coffee I fall asleep, does it have that affect on anyone else? I am out like a light.

Too much sleep, Glenn

PETS

Meet Monty a cat-sitter’s dream pet

WHILE cat­sitting recently for one of our regular clients I met Montgomery, Monty to his friends. To say Monty has a character you have to meet to believe is understating his charisma. On this occasion I was the lucky cat­sitter. One of the reasons I love house­sitting is that I can meet such adorable pets, and their owners of course. Perhaps I the founder of Housesitmatch might turn up one day as your personal pet­sitter.

Our house­sitting and pet­sitting network can help pet owners meet great checked pet­sitters, and secure care for their pets, for free, no matter where they are!

If you are planning a trip later this year, register now to find pet­sitters in time. Even if it’s just a short trip, you’ll know that sometimes you just have to leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying in their own home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Let us help.

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

1. Register as a home owner on HouseSit Match.com

2. Choose a Premium account (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

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

Doggie daycare

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose. How does it work?

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

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga

How do you join?

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

Do you need a house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or home owner with a 50% discount using coupon code 20EWN – an exclusive offer for readers. To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.Housesitmatch.com.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

DOG playschools are taking off in a big way in Spain.

Owners leave their pets at a centre one day a week when they are away at work, always on the same day so that the dogs form a strong group and get to know each other well.

The centres are a hive of canine activity, with the small groups of animals

chasing each other, running up and down stairs and jumping on and off the sofas and cushions.

Dogs are usually separated by size and character, and the service also includes outside walks and periods of rest.

Owners and trainers say that a care option, which can cost up to €350 a month for full days or €220 for half days, pro ­

Keeping them indoors

AWARENESS is gradually increasing that allowing domestic cats to roam free outdoors poses a series of problems for both the cats and the environment.

Experts warn that it can be hazardous to their health as it exposes them to numerous diseases, the risk of being run over or suffering other accidents, poisoning and aggression by other animals.

In addition, their access to the outdoors increases the risk of the cats becoming transmitters of zoonotic diseases, and owners are feeling increasingly responsible for the effect their pets have on wildlife, mainly through hunting.

A team of British investigators carried out a study of 355 domestic cats with access to the

OUTDOOR CATS: Can be hazardous to their health.

outside over a period of four weeks and within four groupswithout restrictions, with nocturnal restrictions, wearing collars with bells, and wearing collars with ultrasound technology to reduce their hunting activity.

The research showed that preventing the cats from going out at night had the best results. However, the investigators added that suddenly restricting a

motes socialisation and facilitates the treatment of separation anxiety, making it easier to leave the animals alone afterwards.

It is also said to be ideal to work on behaviour, as the carers use healthy snacks to train the dogs and the animals are reportedly much calmer when they are picked up after their session.

Pet food banks

Image by GaevoyB/Shutterstock

cat’s movements could be harmful for its wellbeing, and advise owners to adapt their homes to cover the requirements the animals look for outside.

These include using interactive toys that mimic the movement of prey, creating hideyholes and elevated platforms, grass for them to sniff and cardboard boxes to hide and explore, and scratching posts.

FOOD banks for pets are on the rise in the UK to help owners who are struggling with the cost of living crisis ­ and the trend looks set to continue.

One case is in Coventry, where Melinda Anthony runs a pet food bank by the Betty Ennis Foundation charity, supplying pet food and other animal essentials. She set it up last year after encountering a plea on social media from a local couple who were in dire straits after he was laid off due to injury and she had been put on Universal Credit. A call for help was put out and I received “loads of donations of food,” Melinda told the BBC, adding that she believes the cost of feeding pets is leading increasing numbers of owners to abandon them.

The idea is also catching on in Spain, especially since the Covid crisis. The first pet food banks opened in Catalonia several years ago and have since spread throughout the country.

The only requirements to use these centres are for the pet owners to be able to prove they are struggling financially and that the animal is theirs.

Day care for your pampered pooch.

Image by Dezy/Shutterstock

Monty is a Burmese who loves company, his own and the catsitters.

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

New Life Church Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us at our Sunday gathering. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. Sunday Service 11.00am; Prayer Meetings Wednesdays 11.00am; Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780 Email: info@nlcn-

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CHARITY Shop Pocapecunia we need things for the house/kitchen, decoration, vases, plates, cups, saucers, kitchen tools, paintings, pottery pots and pans etc. Prolongacion Avd. Rodgriguez Acosta, Nr the Parador Roundabout, opposite café Trébol, Nerja (294373)

THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning at 9.30 we have an online ‘Zoom’ HC service - please contact Fr Nigel with an e-mail address if you would like to join us. Priest in Charge, Father Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, e-mail: cofenerja@ gmail.com

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FOR SALE

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834.

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (301483)

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DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS wanted for Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical. One day per week. Must be legal to work in Spain, have own transport, know the areas and be reliable. Please send CV with covering letter to Martyn at distribu tion@demon-distribution.com.

Competa enjoy their trip out West!

EWN Walking Football Over 50s League

• EL CANADON 3 v 4 Competa Boca ‘Barbarians’ (friendly)

This friendly fixture took place first on the evening’s bill and, as the scoreline suggests, it was a keenly contested match with just a single goal making the difference in favour of the visitors.

• El Canadon 2 v 7 Competa Boca Seniors

This league fixture was the main event of the evening and, although again hard ­ fought, Competa came away with the spoils with a more emphatic scoreline. By half time, they were 1­3 to the good but still leaving the home side with a chance to fight back. However, in the second half the visitors piled on the pressure, scoring some well­worked goals, and their defence limited El Canadon to scoring only from penal ­

ties given for running offences, rather than goals from open play. Both games were excellently refereed, encouraging free­flowing football!

• BAHA Whiskey Cup

Update

Semi ­ Final: Malaga v Nerja United, on the evening of Tuesday March

28. Good luck to both teams! The winners will play Walking Dead in the final.

• Eurocopa Walking Football Tournament 2023

Last week, the draw took place for the forthcoming Eurocopa Tournament in Albufeira, Portugal. This promises to be one of Europe’s walking football highlights of the year and includes teams from our league, as well as other teams resident in Spain and those from further afield.

And remember……

Walking Dead WFC are staging a Gala evening at the Millenium Cocktail Bar, Calahonda, Saturday March 25, all proceeds going to Prostate Cancer UK. And keep up to date by accessing walkingfooty. com on Facebook!

PROPOSALS have been unveiled in a bid to limit hitting distance for elite golfers.

In what is certain to be a major story in the months and years to come, the R&A and USGA have re vealed their joint propos al for a Model Local Rule (MLR) that gives competition organisers the option to require use of golf balls which are tested under modified launch conditions to address the impacts of hitting distance in golf.

The MLR is intended for use only in elite competitions and, if adopted, will have no impact on recreational golf.

Golf balls that conform to the MLR must not exceed the current Overall Distance Standard (ODS) limit of 317 yards (plus three yards tolerance) at modified Actual Launch Conditions (ALC) with a clubhead speed of 127 mph and based on a calibration set­up for 11 degrees and 37 revolutions per second (2220 rpm) as part of this proposal.

All other balls, including those typically used by recreational golfers with lower swing speeds, would continue to be tested using the existing ALC values (120 mph, and a calibration set­up of 10 degrees and 42 revolutions per second ­ 2520 rpm).

The draw for Eurocopa has now taken place.

EWN Current Walking Football Over 50s League Table.

For elite golfers.

Image: Bohbeh / Shutterstock.com