Mallorca 30 March – 5 April 2023 Issue 1969

Palma sets sail Haven for Schumachers

ONE of the most prestigious nautical events globally returns to Palma from Thursday, April 27 until Sunday, April 30. Palma International Boat Show will be held at the Moll Vell de Palma, showcasing the latest technologies and designs in the nautical world.

Thanks to the efforts of the Fundación Turismo Palma 365, the event is expected to attract more visitors than ever before and give the nautical tourism industry a boost.

With more than 35 years of history the event has become a vital platform for businesses and enthusiasts to display their products and services and make vital connections.

Visitors are invited to explore various boats and participate in exciting activities.

As Mallorca opens the Mediterranean’s nautical season, the Palma International Boat Show is an excellent opportunity to experience the latest advances in the industry.

PROPERTY AT A PEAK

THE Schumacher family are reportedly planning to settle down permanently in Mallorca. The news was reported by German magazine Die Bunte who reported that Schumacher’s wife Corinna finalised a property purchase on the island.

The property named Villa Yasmin is located near Puerto Andratx, and could soon be home for the former Formula One driver and his German family.

The villa will be renovated to cater to Schumacher’s medical needs, and the family plan to set up a ranch nearby for Corinna and their daughter, both

of whom are equestrians.

Meanwhile, the RM Sotheby’s Auction has listed Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F1 ­ 2000 Chassis 198 for sale in an auction which is set to launch from Monday, April 3. Schumacher drove the car during the 2000 season when he won the Driver’s Championship and Ferrari won the Constructor's Championship.

The F1 car is expected to sell for more than €9 million. It has been almost a decade since Michael Schumacher’s life­altering skiing accident in 2013, which left him with severe head injuries.

THE Balearic Islands’ property market hit an all­time high in 2022 according to a report released on Monday, March 27. Mallorca’s property market was responsible for a significant portion of the sales.

The market generated a staggering €7.54 billion in sales during 2022. The mind­blowing figure is even more impressive when compared to the budget of the local government, which was €6.4 billion.

The data means that the property market outperformed the local government and all of its public companies.

The market’s growth has been exponential, with a 350 per cent increase in just 10 years. In 2013, the property market crashed with the sector barely generating €1.66 billion. Fast forward to 2022, and the market has not only bounced back but has also achieved record­breaking sales, num­

bers of foreign purchases, and average property prices.

The average value of a transaction last year was an astounding €402,624, double that of 2013 when it was €206,003. However, the quantity of sales has not yet hit record numbers. In 2022, there were 18,738 sales, compared with the peak of 25,826 sales made in 2005.

Investors are looking to the future with excitement.

Mallorca continues to be a lucrative place to invest in property as the market hit an alltime high in 2022.

Mallorca’s Hoppy Easter

MALLORCA is leading the way in tourism bookings for the upcoming Easter period, according to industry insiders in a report by Habtur released on Monday, March 27.

Tour operators, hotel managers, and airlines are all reporting a surge in demand for the island, with bookings up around 30 per cent compared to pre­pandemic levels in 2019. The increase in demand has boosted the local economy, with the number of jobs created in the tourism industry up 25 per cent compared to last year’s Easter period.

In the report, Habtur, the Balearic Islands’ tourism agency said that hotels are also reporting higher average daily rates than in 2019, indicating that tourists are willing to pay more for high­quality accommodation.

The island’s hoteliers are also reporting that more of their properties are open than before the pandemic, with occupancy rates projected

Showing multiculturalism

to be between 72­80 per cent during the period. The island’s hospitality industry is preparing for a busy period, with many hotels expected to reach full capacity in popular areas like the Platja de Palma, Cala Millor, and Platja de Muro.

All indicators suggest that Mallorca is bouncing back from the pandemic and is well­positioned to have a successful Easter period.

MALLORCA’S community shared a historic moment on Friday, March 25 as Muslims and Christians broke the fast together as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began. More than 500 people celebrated Iftar, the evening meal to break the fast during Ramadan, in the Plaza de las Columnas in Palma.

The event, which was organised by a group of Muslim associations and the Bisbat de Mallorca, was welcomed warmly by local residents who showed their community spirit at the event. Around 60,000 Mus­

lims in Mallorca are currently respecting Ramadan. After sharing a community prayer, the Plaza de las Columnas became a showcase of traditional foods from Islamic cultures. Various local businesses brought out their most spe­

cial dishes including Afghan rices, Moroccan dates and harira soups.

In a monumental move, the Bishop of Mallorca, Bishop Sebastià Taltavul attended the Muslim event and explained, “I was invited to come and I couldn’t say no. Not just for myself, but for what the church represents, because among religions the most valuable thing is that we understand each other. We can’t go against each other. Christians have much in common with Muslims, and it is something we should celebrate.”

Mallorca’s tourism industry is bouncing back from the pandemic with more guests projected over Easter than in 2019.

Photo credit: Tommie Hansen from Stockholm Traditional food from Islamic countries was on display.

Photo credit: Bisbat de Mallorca

Distinctive plaques

ELEVEN new emblematic Palma establishments have been awarded their distinctive plaques which can be displayed on their premises. The catalogue of Palma’s emblematic establishments now stands at 114 businesses, compared to 105 last year, as the 11 new additions have to be subtracted from two plaque retirements.

German strike

THIRTY­TWO flights to Majorca were cancelled on German transport strike day, March 27. According to AENA flight information, a total of 19 arrivals to Palma from Nuremberg, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Bremen, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Hannover were cancelled which affected airlines Eurowings, Condor, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Vueling and Iberia.

Record year

2022 WAS a record year for the real estate sector in the Balearic Islands. A closer look reveals the unstoppable overheating of the sector. The average transaction value last year was €402,624 per purchase. Just 10 years earlier, in 2012, the average figure was €206,003.

Falling fiscus

A LARGE eight­metre­high ficus tree collapsed on Paseo Maritimo in Palma around 6.20am on March 27. The road in the direction of Portopi was temporarily closed to traffic as crews from Palma fire brigade were called to the scene and chopped up the branches to remove them.

1,500 people

MORE than 1,500 people took part in the seventh edition of the Magic Line Mallorca on Sunday, March 26. The charity walk organised by Sant Joan de Deu was also enjoyed in other Spanish cities such as organised in cities Barcelona, Lleida, Valencia and Murcia.

Uncovering Mallorca’s past

ONE Mallorca beach became a hotbed of activity on Thursday, March 23 as excavation work began to uncover potential Civil War graves. Sa Coma beach, near Manacor, is believed to be one of the possible burial sites of victims of the Bayo landing in August 1936, during the three­week Battle of Mallorca.

The death toll from the Civil War has been estimated to be around 500,000, with

A team of workers began excavations on Sa Coma beach back in January.

PALMA’S public bike rental system, Bicipalma has landed in 11 new locations thanks to a system expansion funded by the European Union. Several of the new bike stations were opened by councillors on Friday, March 24 in the Molinar and Son Ferriol areas.

Councillors visited one of the new bike stations on Carrer del Vicari Joaquim Fuster and tested out the bikes which are now available for Bicipalma subscribers to use. Several new stations opened over

many of the victims being members of the army from the Republican side of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The excavation work is technically challenging, as the beach is a sandy area, but a team of experts have been recruited to work on the project.

A team of archaeologists and anthropologists from Aranzadi and Atics are using archaeological testing probes

to open up four areas which have been identified as areas of interest.

The first dig was planned to last around 10 days and has been agreed in coordination with the local hotel association. The work will pause until the end of the tourism in view of the results, before resuming in autumn. The team is hopeful that they will find the main grave and close the wounds of the past.

Pedal power prevails

the course of the week including in Son Ferriol, Son Llàtzer, Camí Fondo, and other key locations such as Son Flor, Son Serra Perera park.

The new stations are set to connect neighborhoods including Son Fortesa, Son Gotleu, and Son Cladera, which were previously excluded from the service.

The Bicipalma expansion project was

Framing water change

funded by the EU’s Next Generation through a contract which was awarded to NextBike for a total of nearly €3 million. The project aims to meet EU sustainability objectives, to create a greener and more digital society across the continent. With these 11 new additions, Bicipalma now has a stunning 73 stations in operation out of a planned 85.

centreCommunitycreation

AUTHORITIES in Palma announced a boost for the Pillarí neighbourhood on Friday, March 24, by giving the green light for a new community centre in the area.

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Turbulence ahead

MALLORCA’S tourism industry is bracing for some more disruption after French and German air traffic controllers announced strike action planned over the Easter break on Saturday, March 25.

The strikes, which began at the weekend, are scheduled to run until Saturday, April 1, and are causing significant disruption to air traffic in Europe. Airports in Bordeaux and Marseille are likely to be the hardest hit, which is likely to affect several flights into Palma.

THE community in Palma came together on Wednesday, March 22 to mark World Water Day. This year, celebrations were back to their full scale with the relaunch of utility company, EMAYA’s Opticaigua Photography Contest which was put on hold for several years due to the pandemic.

The competition which has been held annually since 2007 advocates for sustainable water use and aims to capture environmental advances on the island of Mallorca and offers incredible cash prizes for skilled photographers.

EMAYA’s President, Ramon Perpinyà launched the competition, explaining that it

aims to celebrate the United Nations’ World Water Day saying, “World Water Day is an important day for EMAYA. As is tradition, we present the Opticaigua photography contest and join the message the United Nations is launching today about the need to accelerate change for sustainable water use and implement measures to adapt and mitigate global warming.”

Residents are invited to get involved with the competition and submit their photographs online: https://www.emaya.es/es before the closing date of Saturday, April 22. Winners will be offered prizes including top quality photography products and camera courses.

The project, which has a budget of €3.3 million, aims to construct a two ­ storey community centre building which could be extended by another floor in the future.

The design of the new community centre will reflect the rich history and character of the neighbourhood, and has been developed in close collaboration with local residents.

The building will be located on a council­owned site on the corner of Camí de Son Fangos and Camí de la Muntanya, and will offer a range of spaces for community activities and events.

The new centre will also be built using traditional materials, such as Son Sunyer marès stone, and will

feature some design in the style of a traditional convent.

This exciting project is a result of years of hard work by various departments of the local government, and is set to be a valuable asset to the Pillarí neighbourhood for many years to come.

The strike action comes at a critical time for the Balearic Islands, as airlines are set to launch their summer schedules, and hotel occupancy rates are at an all­time high.

Hotel industry figures in the Balearic Islands have warned the strikes could lead to significant financial losses. Several airlines are reprogramming flights, but it remains unclear how many flights will be affected, and to what extent.

Photo credit: Jesús Juan Jurado Seguí

EMAYA’s World Water Day competition aims to capture sustainable uses of water on the island.

Photo credit: Ajuntament de Palma

THE Calvia Rotary International’s annual ‘Walk for those who can’t’ was an incredible success. Around 160 people turned up on a pleasant spring day for the walk on Sunday, March 26, in S’Arracó.

Walkers embraced two different guided trails of 2.5 kilometres and nine kilometres, respectively, taking in breathtaking mountain views. Later, they refreshed and refuelled at a barbecue organised by the Rotary Club, featuring a huge shared paella dish. Guests also enjoyed amazing live music by Izzy Newman.

The walk was organised in aid of a deserving cause, ASDICA, a local charity that supports disabled young people in Mallorca.

The total amount of money raised is yet to be announced, but donations are still welcome, and more information is available online at www.rotarycalvia.com. The walk was

To smoke or not to smoke Sole-stirring success!

FORMENTOR beach is set to become a smokefree area this summer.

The beach will become one in the total of 28 beaches in the Balearic Islands that will be part of the network of smoke­free areas promoted by the Ministries of Health and the Environment.

Fifteen of these smoke­free beaches are in Mallorca with a total of 14 municipalities involved in the programme to eliminate tobacco consumption from the beaches: Palma, Pollenca, Sant Joan de Labritja, Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Sant Llorenc, Sant Lluis, Santanyi, Alcudia, Arta, Calvia, Ciutadella, Deia, Manacor and Formentera.

The aim of the campaign is to create a network of healthy beaches so the Balearic coast is

a recreational space for the enjoyment of outdoor activities to enrich the health of the people who visit them.

The government also say that tobacco consumption is currently one of the main causes of avoidable illness and death worldwide.

Exposure to smoke from tobacco products has been shown to cause health problems similar to those caused by tobacco use.

On beaches, tobacco waste contains more than 7,000 toxic chemicals that poison the environment. Cigarette butts are the most common waste found among the marine litter. Palma, for its part, has only incorporated two of its urban beaches, Cala Estancia and the Molinar bathing areas, into the programme for the time being.

supported by various other local groups, including the lo cal 41 Club.

The event came at the end of a successful fundraising fortnight for Calvia Rotary In ternational, who presented a donation cheque worth €1,500 to SOS Mamas on Fri day, March 17. The generosity of all the participants will make an incredible difference in the lives of those supported by these organisations.

Design innovation impresses

MALLORCA Design Day, an annual event that celebrates emerging talents in interior design and fashion, held its fourth edition in Inca on Friday, March 24. The festival aims to provide a platform for emerging designers to showcase their work and promote their creations to a wider audience.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

The cutting­edge event featured a packed day of conferences and talks on experiential architecture, new interior design trends, and sustainability, among others. This year, the Fabrica Ramis in Inca played host to the event, which is one of the most iconic design events in Spain

“Where a woman rules, streams run uphill.”

An ancient Ethiopian proverb meaning that women are key game changers and can make wonderful things happen. There is struggle in an uphill endeavour, but a miracle in its very existence.

The festival came to a close with a spectacular gala hosted by model and presenter María José Suárez. The event featured a food design contest judged by renowned chefs, a fashion show, and a groundbreaking furniture design display on the runway.

The food design contest saw six renowned chefs from the island battle it out, with Ricardo Rossi emerging the winner. Meanwhile, the fashion show featured collections from designers, including Laia Muntal, who won the national award for her collection ‘Redefined’.

Energetic walkers on Rotary Club Calvia’s walk enjoy beautiful countryside views while raising funds for charity.

Photo credit: Rotary Club Calvià International

World sailing in Mallorca Flight discount changes

THE Spanish government is currently debating whether to change the 75 per cent discount on air and sea travel for residents between the Balearic Islands and mainland Spain for a fixed subsidy.

A study by the tax authorities has revealed that since the resident discount increased from 50 per cent to its present amount, prices of flights between the mainland and the Balearics, as well as the Canary Islands, have increased by 15 per cent.

The research also showed that the most expensive airlines benefit from the scheme, which in turn increases the expense for the public coffers, leading analysts to suggest that a fixed discount per flight would encourage fliers

MALLORCA is certainly setting itself as a major tourist destination as the prestigious National Geographic has confirmed they are using Bellver Castle for its Legend Route.

The article entitled: Spain in ten Medieval Castles of Legend, proposes a journey through time.

The publication points out that Spain’s castles “have become one of the best ways to get to know that distant Middle Ages and to relive the vicissitudes of those who pro­

AIR TRAVEL: The discounts may change.

to choose cheaper options.

This move is also expected to lead to a fairer competition between airlines and a better balance between residents with higher and lower incomes, as figures show that those with more spending power tend to choose more expensive tickets.

Making its mark

tected themselves behind their walls.”

The magazine also features Belalcazar Castle (Cordoba), Loharre (Huesca), Trujillo (Caceres), Calahorra (Granada), Peníscola (Castellon), Santa Barbara Castle (Alicante), Tossa de Mar (Girona), Olite (Navarra) and Belmonte (Cuenca) in the article.

Bellver Castle stands about

three kilometres from the city centre of Palma, on a hill some 112 metres above sea level. It overlooks the city, its bay and a large part of southwest Mallorca.

In 1931 the government gave the building and the woods to Palma City Council who turned it into the Palma History Museum and the Despuig Collection of Classical Sculpture.

BEST Crews in the World are to compete for the SAR Princess Sofia Sailing Trophy in Palma de Mallorca.

One of the most notable events of the competitive international sailing calendar in Mallorca is the SAR Princess Sofia Sailing Trophy, a sailing regatta held every year in the Bay of Palma de Mallorca. Since its first edition in 1968, it brings to the island more than 1,000 Olympic level sailors from around the world.

The first qualifying event for the Sailing World Cup 2023 will feature 75, 470 Mixed and 55 Nacra 17 crews in the Bay of Palma, the two mixed classes that will compete for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The inclusion of two mixed classes will be one of the great new features of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Nacra 17 made its debut with a combined crew at the Rio 2016 Games but now the

new Olympic cycle incorporates the 470 Mixed, which brings together the best exponents in the men’s and women’s classes into one mixed trapeze dinghy.

The 52 Princess Sofia Trophy Mallorca is the first qualifying event for this year’s Sailing World Cup and will be held from March 29 to Saturday April 8.

Image by Deliris/Shutterstock

MUSICAL theatre fans will be delighted to hear that the Malaga­born and based actor and director, Antonio Banderas, recently spent time attending the auditions for the new Spanish production of Phantom of the Opera.

Banderas has confirmed he is collaborating with Amigos Para Siempre (APS) and Andrew Lloyd Webber, to create Spanish­language productions of the musical across major

Phantom of the Opera

global markets.

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, and a libretto by Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe.

Based on the 1910 French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, it tells the sto­

ry of a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, masked musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opera House.

The show’s initial run in Madrid will start from

September 22 until November 11 at the Teatro Albeniz Umusic Hotel, Madrid Calle de la Paz, 11, 28012.

For more information or to book tickets head to the website: https://umusichotels.com/ or call (+34) 911 231 099.

Mega fires predicted

“WE are moving from the era of big forest fires to mega forest fires in Spain,” said Pablo Martin Pinto, wildfire expert from Valladolid University, warning that vast blazes like the Sierra de la Culebra wildfire last year, were "here to stay”.

Sierra de la Culebra, in Castilla y Leon, located in the northwestern region of the Iberian peninsula, was ravaged by fires last June and July, with more than 65,000 hectares burnt ­ a fifth of the total area affected by fires in Spain last year.

The blaze also claimed four

lives.

The fire damage has meant the town will lose its annual income of €80,000 from selling firewood, says mayor Antonio Juarez.

In 2022 Spain suffered nearly 500 wildfires that devastated massive swathes of land, with experts warning that such California­style fires are likely to increase.

Spring has only just begun in Spain, and some 700 firefighters have already been battling Spain’s first major forest fire which has so far burnt through some 4,000 hectares of land, forcing 1,500 people to flee.

Banderas attended the recent auditions.

Image: Antonio Banderas / Twitter.

Spanish prices increasing

NEARLY half of companies in Spain, 44 per cent, have increased their prices from January to March 2023, and slightly more than half plan on doing so sometime before the end of the year, according to a new survey of 15,000 companies carried out by the Bank of Spain.

Analysts from the Bank of Spain say that for many industries the price adjustments for the rest of the year are concentrated in the first few months. The rise in prices has been seen in all sectors, although it has occurred “with more intensity” in services such as information and communication and administrative services.

Most companies, however, expect the situation to improve considerably in the second quarter. Three out of four firms or 74 per cent believe that labour costs will also increase in the coming months.

New easier guide

A GAME-CHANGING guide is now published, aimed at those who dream of living in Spain but who are concerned they may find the process and regulations daunting.

Produced by Age in Spain, a Spanish charity which has supported English speakers in Spain for more than 30 years, Moving to Spain: a complete guide takes the reader step­by­step through all that is involved in making the move. It describes how Spain works: how to apply for the right visa, what to do when buying a property and how to bring your car or pet. The guide also explains why it is essential to plan ahead, especially for health care

and social services that might be needed later.

There’s guidance to help the reader decide where in Spain would best suit them to live, and an introduction to the culture of Spain that will be of interest even to those just visiting on holiday.

And because it’s an ebook, there are links to live interviews with people who have already successfully made the move, as well as links to public information websites which means the guide will stay up­to­date if regulations change.

It’s free to download from https://www.agein spain.org/moving ­ tospain.

President of Age in Spain, John Rafferty, a

Scot who has been living in Spain for 15 years, said:

“Spain is the most popular European destination for people who retire and want to enjoy all the benefits of a Mediterranean lifestyle. It’s also popular with younger families who want to live and work here.

“The guide is designed for UK citizens and the many others from non­EU countries who wish to live in Spain, but there’s lots of information that will be of interest to anyone who speaks English and is interested in how Spain works.”

The e ­ book has been produced with support from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

UK budget abolishes pensions lifetime allowance

The main tax changes announced in the UK spring 2023 budget related to pensions. The predicted rise from £40,000 to £60,000 in the annual tax-free has now been confirmed, with the big surprise being the scrapping of the lifetime allowance (LTA).

First introduced by Gordan Brown in 2006 to bring in more tax from society’s wealthiest, the lifetime allowance was significantly reduced over recent years and arguably disincentivised pension saving.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is hoping that abolishing it will help retain the senior workforce within the NHS and tempt some to return.

What do these changes to pensions mean?

With the lifetime allowance in place, anyone whose pension funds (excluding state pension) amount or grow to over £1,073,100 (unprotected LTA) would have to pay additional tax

By Cathal Rochford, Partner, Blevins Franks

25% for income or overseas transfers. As of 6 April 2023, however, the LTA tax rate will effectively reduce to zero before being scrapped entirely in the 2024 Finance Bill.

Other pension changes effective from 6 April 2023 include:

The Annual Allowance for pension contributions increases from £40,000 to £60,000 and the Money Purchase Annual Allowance and minimum Tapered Annual

£10,000. The adjusted income threshold for the Tapered Annual Allowance also increases from £240,000 to £260,000.

The maximum Pension Commencement Lump Sum for those without protections is retained at £268,275 and frozen for those without protections thereafter.

Do you need to act now?

For many people who have pension funds above £1 million (or likely to swiftly exceed it) there may be options to transfer to a suitable alternative pension scheme depending on their personal situation. It’s worth seeking specialist, regulated advice to look at your situation now. Pension transfers can take several months and the clock is ticking towards the next UK general election which must be held by 24 January 2025, and which may well see things change radically.

Following the budget, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated the move was “ the wrong priority, at the wrong time, for the wrong

ment will reverse this move”.

Recent poll numbers suggest that Labour could very well form the next UK government.

The reinstatement of the lifetime allowance on pensions is certainly not guaranteed, but given that senior members of a political party that could win the election made a definitive statement that could easily belong to an election manifesto, the possibility should not be ignored.

Other budget changes

The starting rate for savings will be frozen at £5,000, enabling individuals with less than £17,570 in employment income to receive up to £5,000 of savings income free of tax. Annual ISA subscription limits remain unchanged.

The government will formalise and extend an existing income tax concession for low-income trusts and estates. Calculations and reporting will become more straightforward and HMRC intends to amend inheritance tax regulations to remove non-taxpaying trusts

The various income tax allowances and the National Insurance contributions thresholds remain frozen until April 2028, and the additional rate threshold reduced to £125,140.

The two inheritance tax nil rate bands also remain frozen until 2028, and the cuts to the capital gains tax exemption threshold and the dividend allowance, announced in the Autumn Statement, go ahead as planned.

Take personalised advice to ensure your tax planning is up to date, both for the UK and Spain, and to full benefit from any positive tax reforms.

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

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

One woman hit maker

THE Song Writers Hall of Fame is dominated by men but Holly Knight is the amazing exception having written some of the best ­ selling songs of all time.

She started off as a pianist as a child, went through a rebellious period, leaving home in New York as a young teenager before becoming a member of band called Spider which saw her compose her first minor hit.

Quite early on in her career she discovered that being a ‘rock chick’ and musician she had to fight enormous prejudice and sexism but went on to write or co­write hits for performers such as Aerosmith, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Chaka Khan, Cheap Trick, Heart, Kiss, Meatloaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Patty Smith, Rod Stewart, John Waite and most famously of all, Tina Turner.

In fact, Tina Turner has recorded no less than nine of her compositions, perhaps the most famous being The Best (originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler) which after a relatively slow start became one of the most played songs from the 1980s which is still hugely successful today.

In her new book, I Am The Warrior she reveals all about her 40 plus year career which has seen her have two marriages and affairs with some of rock’s greatest stars including several members of KISS.

From the very beginning she recognised that she would have to fight to be accepted as a musician and songwriter but was determined to do it on her own terms without having to use sex to climb the ladder.

She admits that sometimes it appeared that she was in the right place at the

right time and having managed to meet highly successful song writer and producer Mike Chapman who had hit it big in the UK writing scores of hits with Nicky Chinn for artists like Sweet, Racey, Suzi Quatro, Mud and Kim Wilde, before he moved to Los Angeles where Holly was taken under his wing.

Pretty soon though, they had co­written Love is a Battlefield for Pat Benatar and from there, working with Chapman and other writers and artists, the rock hits just kept rolling in.

Much of what Holly did was ideal for the newly opened MTV music station and she found more and more of her compositions being promoted both on radio and through videos on MTV.

Talking about the book, Holly said “I’ve been fighting

my whole life for the things that mattered to me. It started when I was a child but as I got older, I was able to articulate in a more elegant and creative manner what was most important to me: independence, autonomy, expressing my own voice, anarchy in all its glory, and, essentially, telling people to **** off in a clever way.”

Summing up, Tina Turner said in the foreword to I Am The Warrior “It seems a lifetime ago that I first heard The Best.

“It’s not a song that I’ve carried ­ but rather a song that has carried me around the world. The energy it gave me on stage lifted me and the audience, a rare treasure ­ a universal anthem.”

Credit: Matthew Beard

Holly Knight dressed typically in black.

EASTER celebrations taking place across Mallorca, starting this weekend Palm Sunday on April 2 signals the beginning of Holy Week in Mallorca and as in previous years, the start of week long celebrations and processions in all Spanish towns. Church services will take place all over the island on Sunday April 2, with the distribution of palm leaves, which many parishioners will take home to put on display.

It’s nearly Easter

in Mallorca which has been celebrated since 1564.

The first notable evening to witness these parades is on Holy Thursday April 6 before Easter Sunday as the parades start to make their way through Palma City.

cessions through the streets and squares, dressed in distinctive penitential robes with iconic pointed hooded cloaks.

Huge heavy religious effigies are carried through the streets on pasos or floats, it really is quite a sight for anyone visiting Mallorca at Easter.

The most spectacular events during Easter in Mallorca are the religious parades where brotherhoods take to the streets. This is possibly the most significant religious parade

You will find these taking place in the villages and towns all over the island. Expect to see some 5,000 members from Palma’s 33 brotherhoods walk solemnly in these penance pro-

Alcudia Nautical and Cuttlefish Fair 2023

A German Requiem

DELIGHTFUL music events by the Balearic Symphony Orchestra as they perform A German Requiem this week in Palma and Manacor.

An evening of musical entertainment awaits all classical music lovers as the Balearic Symphony Orchestra prepare to perform ‘Ein deutches Requiem’ at the Palma and Manacor Auditoriums later this week. Rehearsals are currently underway for what will surely be a truly stunning performance.

Composed between 1865 and 1868, A German Requiem, to words of the Holy Scriptures, is a large­scale

work written for orchestra, choir, soprano and a baritone soloist.

The Balearic Symphony Orchestra will be teaming up with the University of the Balearic Islands Choir, Armenian soprano Maria Sardaryan and German baritone Thomas Muller Brachman for a performance of a work that will surely bring delight to all.

Performances will take place at 8pm today Thursday March 30 at Palma Auditorium and 7.30pm on Friday March 31 at Manacor Auditorium, priced at €30­35 and €18, respectively.

Andratx Agricultural Fair

LOVERS of the nautical and gastronomical worlds, and especially of delicious seafood such as sepia, or cuttlefish, have three days to enjoy this nautical and gastronomic fair that was first celebrated 15 years ago on the promenade at Port d’Alcudia and has been gaining in popularity amongst locals, foreign residents and tourists alike. The fair will commence on April 7 and last until April 9. The best local chefs will endeavour to tempt you with their beautifully presented dishes and tapas, right at the water’s edge. This is a great way to promote companies in the nautical sector, as there will also be stalls and stands at which they will compete for attention with demonstrations of their work and by showcasing the varied products they can offer which should help boost sales for both sectors during the three days of the Alcudia fira de sa sipia 2023 (Alcudia Cuttlefish Fair 2023). This is a great opportunity to try some unusual and some more traditional local cuisine.

A SPRING fair held in the pretty town of Andratx.

This first weekend in April sees the small town of Andratx host its annual livestock, agricultural and artisan fair, one of the most anticipated events in the municipality. You can expect an exhibition of indigenous breeds and sheep animals from local herders, an equestrian exhibition, a children’s workshop and more.

The main activities of the fair will take place in Plaza de España, where there will also be a Tapas Tour and musical performances on Saturday night, April 1.

On Sunday, April 2, the main events take place within close proximity to the town hall and the surrounding streets. Why not head over to Andratx with all the family for a lovely weekend of activity and fun.

SEAFOOD FAIR: A great opportunity to try local cuisine.

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Back to work

COINCIDING with the announcement of plans to celebrate Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s 83rd birthday on April 16, court sources in Copenhagen confirmed that she hoped to resume her constitutional duties that same day, having recuperated from extensive but planned back surgery last February.

THE NETHERLANDS

Wildlife death

WK2, a wildcat tagged and monitored via GPS in 2014 and known to be at least 13 years old, died after it was run over on the N281 near Nijswillier (Limburg). This was the third time in five years that a wildcat was killed on this road, the Mammal Association said.

BELGIUM

Happy event

A RARE Rothschild's giraffe was born at Belgium’s Pairi Daiza zoo in the early hours of March 22. “The little one, whose sex has not yet been determined, weighs about 70 kilos, is 1.5 metres tall and is already eating well,” the zoo management announced in a Facebook post.

GERMANY

Joint approval

GERMANY is expected to introduce a bill which, if approved, would give the go-ahead to the consumption and sale of cannabis. Health Minister Karl said that after months of talks with Brussels, his plans, which complied with European law, had received “very good feedback” from the European Commission.

FRANCE

Roman des-res

ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Rheims unearthed a Roman structure dating back to the Second century AD. The impressive building, which once had more than 20 rooms, its own bath house and a garden, was either the home of a very wealthy person or possibly a public spa, experts said.

NORWAY

Meltdown

MOST of Norway's glaciers will have disappeared by 2100 even if targets to limit rising temperature are met, experts warned. As the glaciers retreat, there will be more landslides and rockfalls once the ground is no longer frozen and it becomes more unstable, said Oslo University’s Regine Hock.

FINLAND

Further help

FINLAND will provide an additional €12 million in humanitarian aid to help earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. Half will be channelled to Turkey through the Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations and the other half will reach Syria through the Syria CrossBorder Humanitarian Fund (SCHF).

IRELAND

Urban forest

VOLUNTEERS in Mulhuddart (Dublin) planted Ireland’s first Tiny Forest, a concept pioneered by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki. Six hundred trees planted on a tennis court-sized plot will mature within 20 or 30 years instead of 200 or 300 thanks to special planting and ground preparation methods.

ITALY No way

ITALY will debate a bill that would criminalise partners who go abroad to have a baby via a surrogate. The proposed law, which would mainly affect same-sex couples, is part of the socially-conservative ideology of prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who has little sympathy for the LGBT community.

PORTUGAL

Custom built

ARCHITECT Tarek Shamma built La Folie, a tower in the seaside town of Melides, for luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Inspired by India’s step wells and the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the unique structure was created solely as somewhere to read, meditate and host friends for drinks and parties.

UKRAINE

Match point

UKRAINE took on the UK in a solidarity chess tournament as Ukrainian champion Andrei Volokitin played his British counterpart Michael Adams in the House of Commons. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle organised the game to champion Parliament’s support for Ukraine.

SWEDEN

Northern lights

THE Swedish Institute of Space Physics recently created a light show in the night sky, releasing material from a sounding rocket to research the aurora borealis. The experiment was part of research to help scientists improve near-space weather forecasts to protect satellites and critical infrastructures.

WOMEN WOMEN

Dreaming BIG in Business in Business

We all have a dream

WHETHER that dream is opening your own bakery, completing your first ever triathlon, or one day becoming the CEO of a major company, imagining pursuing our passions is something we all do.

When it comes to the actual reality of making those dream happen though, that’s when it can become a bit more complicated.

From Oprah Winfrey to Marie Curie Michelle Obama or Madonna, all women who end up changing the world have to start somewhere. It’s just that first push which is often the hardest.

If you are at that crossroads in your own life, this special is for you. The Euro Weekly News knows how many extraordinarily talented women there are in the world. But we also know that the hows, wheres, whats and whys of business aren’t always obvious. Luckily though there is inspiration lurking in literally every profession, country and corner. And, as well as celebrating some of the

incredible female business success from across history and the world, we wanted this special to share inspiring tales and tips on exactly how success can be achieved.

From women who have climbed to the top of their professions, we have compiled a series of tales of resilience, self-belief, discipline and passion. In short, all the ingredients to achieve phenomenal success.

Expect to find features on some of the world’s most successful women, as well as how to guides, and information on women living not a million miles from your own door who provide inspirational leadership and success every day.

Whatever your dream, we want your success. For anyone looking to take that next step in their lives, enjoy finding the inspiration and tools you need right here.

Remember, you’ve got this. “If you can dream it in your head, you can hold it in your hand.”

MADONNA: Has left an indelible mark on the world of music and is known as the Queen of Pop.

Interview

Dedicated care from 0-100 years old

SINCE opening in 2003, manager and head nurse

Sally Emery-Luxmoore and her team have been providing dedicated care at home to those who need it most. The team at Angels Nursing are available for their patients 24/7, 365 days a year and island-wide, offering comprehensive and tailored care programmes.

Known as the most trusted and experienced provider of adult and child care services in the Balearics, the kind, trustworthy and professional team is made up of experienced nurses, midwives, carers and babysitters to offer a service adapted to patients’ individual needs.

The experienced caregivers are available on a short or long-term basis for live-in and overnight care, in addition to weekend cover at the same rate as weekdays. To decide on the level of care needed, Angels offers initial evaluations from the comfort of patients’ own homes. From here, the team will work with

patients and loved ones to ensure the highest quality of care, a kind heart, helpful hands and the benefit of their experience in the care industry.

For clients who don’t speak fluent Spanish, Angels can send a bilingual team member to accompany them to doctor and hospital appointments, to translate not just what is said, but the meaning and consequences of what the doctor says. They will help with asking any questions and, in turn, get the diag-

nosis, treatment and help that is recommended.

The Angels team provide companionship and company, as well as the following services:

• Hygiene maintenance and assistance in bathing/dressing

• Meal preparation/diet monitoring

• Errands and shopping, prescription collection

• Respite for family

• Assistance with walking, transfers, exercises and transportation

• Medication and appointment reminders

• Getting ready for bed/making the bed

• Laundry/ironing/light household chores

• Assistance with caring for any pets

• Incontinence care including changing pads/catheters and stoma bags

Sally and her team of Angels are also dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of people who are homebound, have a serious illness, need palliative care or postsurgical support, and those who are physically and/or mentally challenged. There is a qualified and experienced team in place who will fine-tune, monitor and maximise care programmes by liaising with other healthcare professionals and deciding on the best actions. These services also include wound dressing and advice on long-term dressings for ulcers and bed sores, administering injections

and enemas, physiotherapy and vital sign monitoring.

A necessary side of caregiving is improving the comfort and quality of life of patients who are no longer responsive to curative treatments. The comprehensive palliative care programme provided by Angels is provided through the team in collaboration with physicians to manage pain, fatigue, delirium, anorexia, anxiety, depression and breathlessness. Along with this, they also provide much-needed psychological and emotional support to patients’ loved ones, helping them to discuss and decide on the most appropriate treatments and care services.

The Angels team is made up of a large number of caring, dedicated, professional and qualified babysitters, highly trained healthcare assistants and specialist nurses.

References are rigorously checked before joining the team, and continuous training is carried out to ensure the highest level of care at all times and in all situations.

The EWN’s ace team of fearless females

THEY say no (wo)man is an island and anyone who has ever run a team understands that it takes a mixture of talents, personalities and effort to achieve true greatness.

At the Euro Weekly News we’ve known this all along, and that’s why we are immensely proud to have a crack team of amazing women whose combined powers make the EWN a success.

Here we explore the women behind Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper.

Michel Euesden: A pioneer in Spain’s newspaper industry, Michel has a drive, passion and commitment to success that is literally second to none.

A straight shooter, she has consistently defied expectations, first by becoming one of Spain’s only women at the helm of a major newspaper, and later by continually pushing and growing the Euro Weekly News to an extraordinary half a million readers a month across its seven printed editions.

Sally Underwood: Once a freelance writer for the Euro Weekly News living in the hills of Axarquia, Sally has grown in the company to become its editorial director. Supported by Michel, her journey from local reporter in 2016 to tak-

ing editorial control in 2022 has been one of the best experiences of her life.

Mo: A familiar, and much-loved name to many EWN clients, editorial manager Maureen Doninger has been working for the company for more than 13 years. With an eagle-eyed attention to detail, Maureen ensures that an incredible seven papers come together each week, seamlessly and with consistently high quality.

Alison: Office manager and saleswoman Alison Steele is a corner-

stone of the EWN’s commercial success. Ruthlessly efficient but with a genuine warmth that keeps her clients loyal for years, literally every office could be improved by an Alison.

Michelle Coy: Another member of our crack sales team is Michelle Coy, who has been with the company for more than 10 years. Known for her extremely high levels of customer service, Michelle always goes above and beyond for her clients on the Costa Blanca, ensuring consistent client care

throughout our footprint.

Linda Hall: Our longest-serving staffer, Linda Hall has been with the company an astonishing 27 years. An extraordinary woman who arrived in Spain in the 1960s, Linda is an expert on all things political and contributes her views via her weekly column.

Amalia: After arriving at the company 15 years ago without a word of English, it is fair to say that the Euro Weekly News now just wouldn’t be the same without its effervescent and extraordinarily talented financial director.

Vanesa: Some people are born rulebreakers while others love to follow the rules. The reason we love Vanesa is that she falls firmly into the latter category, ensuring our accounting and HR systems are followed to the letter and protecting the company in what can be a minefield of Spanish bureaucracy.

Lynn: Last but definitely not least is our head of recruitment, Lynn. A firecracker with a fantastic sense of humour and an infectious giggle, Lynn is the warm voice at the end of the phone to applicants looking to join the EWN’s ever-growing news empire.

Thank you ladies, from everyone at the EWN family!

ANGELS NURSING: Highly trained healthcare assistants and nurses.

EWN TEAM: Some of the women who make the EWN a success.

Interview with Sally Emery-Luxmoore

HI Sally! Tell us a bit about yourself and Angels Nursing

I came here in 1991, having been very disillusioned by the NHS and knowing since a teenager that I didn’t want to live in the UK.

I lived in France and Germany for short periods and realised I did not want to live there either. I’d been teaching myself Spanish from a book after qualifying, and I was planning to go to Valencia as I had been there many times and loved it. However, my then au pair offered me his parent’s holiday apartment in Santa Ponsa and, because it was pre-social media and the internet, I had no idea how long paperwork took to do or how to fulfil the many requirements!

When did you create Angels and what was your inspiration?

I did many jobs while waiting for my residencia paperwork to be accepted and my qualifications to be recognised by the Spanish Nursing College, including working in a nursing home. I had a wakeup call during work one night, suddenly realising how

interesting older people are and, in one shift, I would find out so much about the residents, their lives and perceptions.

I worked as head nurse for an other agency for eight years, before starting Angels 20 years ago, in May 2003. It was very chal -

lenging starting a company, and more so to maintain it. I was juggling being a mother, dealing with never ending new requirements and bureaucracy, constantly learning new things, and my only managerial skills were those I learnt through running a ward. But there has been huge satisfaction gained from a sense of purpose and doing something I love, the numerous wonderful references and feedback we receive, and caring for different generations of some resident families.

What do you enjoy most about having your own business?

The best thing about being your own boss is you can follow your passion whilst controlling your own destiny. You can choose the people you work with. You take the risks, but reap the rewards. There is a huge satisfaction in knowing you have helped someone in their hours of need. It has changed my perspective on life and my own humaneness.

Everyone needs an Angel at some time in their life. Knowing that the team and I are improving

the quality of someone’s life, or their final days, or encouraging the recovery after, for example, an illness, fracture, surgery, long hospitalisation or a stroke, is the greatest reward.

What advice would you give aspiring businesswomen?

Running a business is a constant learning curve and is extremely demanding, you will need to push yourself and make sacrifices. You must have a deep sense of purpose, set high goals, learn to ask, have determination, willingness to put in hours, show leadership but encourage teamwork, remain approachable and take care of your staff - after all, they are the best advertising for your company.

What plans do you have for the future of the business?

I take it year by year, but my main objective is to work on communication and leadership skills, become a little more tech savvy, constantly updating my vision plan, whilst obviously ensuring the sustainability, and development of the company and team; Angels.

SALLY EMERY-LUXMOORE: Everyone needs an Angel at some point.

Golden Leaves International: Expat funeral plans with your needs in mind

LANNING our funeral isn’t something most of us consider in advance. However, it is especially important for expats to plan ahead for when the time comes, giving family and loved one’s peace of mind and alleviating some of the stress. That’s where Golden Leaves can help, an experienced and passionate company that has been at the forefront of the funeral planning industry since its foundation in 1984.

There are numerous considerations to take into account when planning a funeral, including logistics, refreshments for guests, casket purchase, and burial grounds.

With the immense emotional strain the death of a loved one can cause for a family, dealing with arrangements in a foreign language and financing problems only exacerbate the grief.

“I raise up my voice - not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard… We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

Malala Yousafzai

ing abroad, a funeral plan with Golden Leaves takes away the pressure of having to arrange a funeral, supporting grieving families and friends during these tumultuous times.

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow, it’s all the same day.”

Janis Joplin

carried out as per their wishes, taking the distress and financial burden away from family and friends when the time comes.”

Funeral plans with Golden Leaves are designed around your needs. The international team led by Emma can help you to navigate which plan is best for you and your loved ones, from their direct, simple, traditional and repatriation plans. Each of these plans have been designed with the expat in mind, guaranteeing to cover the cost of your funeral when the time comes.

Inspired by her team and the service they provide to their clients, Emma said it is their range of plans, customer support and payment plan options that sets Golden Leaves apart from the rest. The team has helped thousands of expats in Spain prepare everything for their funeral, with plans that offer flexibility and peace of mind - whatever your financial situation.

“Without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success.”

Martha Stewart

With a ‘one call does it all’ service to help take care of all the paperwork in Spain when you need it most, Golden Leaves offers every type of funeral plan, from direct cremation to repatriation.

We spoke with Emma Quantrill, international oper -

Leaves, she told us: “In our case, when dealing with funerals, we see many people grieving and not thinking as they normally would. We are there to safeguard the client and ensure that everything is

Get in touch with Emma and the international team at Golden Leaves to start planning for your funeral so that, when the time comes, you and your loved ones will be in the best possible hands.

“Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.”

Hillary Clinton

Emma Quantrill and her team has helped thousands of UK expats in Spain.

Emma Quantrill: A true inspiration to all ambitious women

DEATH is not a subject many of us are comfortable talking about, yet there is one woman whose leadership, strength and humanity allow her to not only discuss the subject daily but deal with it with total professionalism and compassion.

That woman is Emma Quantrill, International Operations Director at Golden Leaves. In what has been a male-orientated profession for hundreds of years, Emma has broken the mould to lead one of Spain’s most trusted funeral plan provider for the past eight years. Here, the Euro Weekly News finds out how this extraordinary woman achieves everything she does and what inspires her the most.

Hi Emma! Tell us a bit about yourself

I have lived in Spain since 2007 and moved to join my parents who retired here in 2006 - And so my life in the sun began!

You’ve obviously achieved huge success in that time; how do you do it?

I have worked with Golden Leaves as the International Operations Director since 2015. Passion plays a huge part in my success and I am an avid believer in our product as I know how vital is it for the expat to have their affairs in order when living in a foreign country as we don’t always fully understand the system.

How did your journey working at Golden Leaves start and what inspires you?

I was asked to join the company in 2015. I had worked in the industry for a number of years beforehand and had a lot of experience, I discovered Golden Leaves was the number one provider of pre-paid plans in Spain. I believed in them along with their priority, focus on customer care, service, range of plans and payment options. Eight years later I still feel this way about Golden Leaves. I am proud to be a part of this groundbreaking company and proud to head up the international team. It is hugely important to love where you work; this is my inspiration to achieve the best every day.

What motivates you the most?

I am motivated and inspired by my team, our clients, the company and the products that we offer. Also knowing that we are in some small way helping that individual and their families at a very difficult time in their lives.

What do you enjoy most about your role at Golden Leaves?

Firstly helping a client, secondly seeing my team flourish, and seeing the business grow.

What mistakes have you made along the way and what advice would you, as a hugely successful woman, give to others about set backs?

I have made mistakes, it’s part and parcel of running a business as a woman in Span. I would tell people that as long as you can rectify those mistakes and learn from them, it’s all a part of self-growth and development.

What advice would you give an aspiring young businesswoman?

Make sure you have done your due diligence. Love the product, know the market, and know its demandsand needs. Understand and teach yourself the basics on the social platforms and market everything to the correct audience. Finally try to enjoy the choices you make creating your business and making it a success.

“Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me.”

Arianna Huffington

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” Oprah Winfrey

Emma is an avid believer in the product.

Interview

A French touch

OIC COVA

French concept salons bring a French touch to Palma. With an expert team of professionals in hairdressing and aesthetics, this luxurious salon uses only the most prestigious brands including Leonor Greyl, L’Oreal and Sothys.

We asked owner Loic about the inspiration behind the business: “After working in France for 10 years, I decided to open my salon in 2019 with my vision and experiences. I could no longer find my place while being employed and it was time for me to embark on this adventure.

“We opened four

months before the pandemic so the beginnings were complicated, but we quickly built up recommendations between customers which helped the business grow.”

Motivated by positive feedback, Loic and his team are passionate about making clients look and feel amazing through hair transformations and aesthetics. The hair stylists are specialists in listening to clients’ needs to create a look tailored to each individual, leaving a glossy finish using the best products.

When asked about working closely with women, Loic said: “In business, women bring

a different touch. Being a hairdresser, I rub shoulders with women every day and I am always impressed by their stories and strength.”

Loic told the EWN that he takes his business inspiration from everyday life: “We are in a time where everything goes so fast. I see incredible things every day that inspire me, from social media to the street.”

We asked Loic what advice he would give to aspiring businesswomen and where he sees the salon in 10 years: “I would tell people who want to start a business to firmly believe in their projects, be patient and have faith.”

Address: Avde Gabriel Roca 29, Balearic Islands, Spain, Palma de Mallorca

Telephone: +34 626 32 62 77 - Email: loic-cova@hotmail.fr

Talent and philanthropy: The rise of Shakira

WHILE it may be her personal life that has made most recent headlines, Colombian-Lebanese mega star Shakira has made it to the top of the business world, not only selling out stadiums and creating a line of no less than 30 perfumes, but has also made a difference along the way.

Here we explore the star’s philanthropical work. Shakira - meaning ‘grateful’ in Arabic - founded the ‘Pies Descalzos’ (Barefoot) Foundation during the late 90’s, aged just 18.

After seeing many children living in poverty on

Barranquila’s streets growing up, Shakira promised herself she would do something to help.

The charity’s name has a double meaning. It was the title of Shakira’s 1995 international hit record and also brings to mind the poverty of children who cannot afford shoes.

The foundation believes education is not only a basic right but also holds the key for society’s growth.

The Barefoot Foundation runs five schools, offering nutritious meals, education and psychological support to children and their families.

Some 4,000 children benefit from the charity’s work, which also operates in Haiti and South Africa. Shakira is also involved in advocacy efforts to raise awareness of children’s needs in Colombia, Latin America and around the World. She has spoken in numerous prestigious settings including the Oxford Union debating society. She also serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in the United States and is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations children’s fund, UNICEF.

Shakira set up a charity.

Lady boss

INSPIRATION not perspiration, as they say. And while business success definintely involves plenty of hard work, it is inspiration and passion that drives that hard work.

Luckily there are plenty of uber successful female authors who have made it their life missions to not only inspire but to show others how to achieve success the most efficient way possible.

Here, we round up our must-read motivational books to super charge your business.

The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to be a Courageous, Authentic and Unstoppable Entrepreneur, Ameé Quiriconi

The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Starting a Business is a book for freedom-seeking female entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who want to know how to connect with their true passions,

skills, and desires. It’s a book for startup business women who get honest with themselves about their reasons for wanting to start a business.

She Thinks Like a Boss : Leadership: 9 Essential Skills for New Female Leaders in Business and the Workplace. Jemma Roedel

Discover how to become an effective woman in leadership - even if you’re shy, avoid conflict at all costs, or lack confidence.

If you are tired of seeing men at work get promoted, be given better assignments, and enjoy pay raises even though you know your skills and results are just as good, then help is at hand in the form of this bestseller.

Just F*cking Do It: Stop Playing Small. Transform Your Life, Noor Hibbert

JUST F*CKING DO IT will take you on a mind-altering journey of self discovery and personal transformation using an approach which com-

bines psychological rigour with spiritual power - helping you to become the best version of yourself and create a life of happiness and abundance.

It’s only fair to let the boys play too, so we’ve included this global bestseller on our list to help optimise every spare minute of your busy work day.

The Miracle Morning: The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8AM, Hal Elrod What’s widely regarded as “one of the most life changing books ever written” may be the simplest approach to achieving everything you’ve ever wanted, and faster than you ever thought possible. A must-read.

Interview

How to feel beautiful

DENISE MALMESTROM, owner of Instituto de Belleza Denise, has worked in the beauty industry since training at her mother’s salon in Stockholm. After 33 successful years in business and overcoming a global pandemic that shook the beauty sector, Denise and her team of professional therapists are going from strength to strength.

Denise was born in Tenerife and moved to Sweden at the age of 14 with her parents and siblings. From then, she worked in her mother’s salon as an assistant and witnessed the determination it took to raise a family while running a successful business. Denise told the EWN: “Sweden was too cold for me, so at age 20 I moved back to Mallorca. I worked in the medical industry as a

Denise says believe in yourself.

translator, with roles at medical centres and the hospital in Palma, alongside offering treatments from my home before opening my salon.”

February 2023 marked year 33 for the salon, during which she moved to bigger premises 24 years ago and hired a team of experienced and friendly beauty therapists. Famous for their pedicures, the salon offers a huge

Website: www.institutodebellezadenise.com

range of treatments from traditional deep cleaning and skin purification to a range of anti-ageing facials, massages and full body exfoliation to eyebrow and body waxing, spray tans to eyelash and eyebrow tinting.

Motivated by making her clients feel and look their best, Denise and her team treat men and women from all nationalities, including residents and holidaymakers.

Denise said: “People today are so busy, I love making them feel beautiful and relaxed, offering an escape from daily life. I have had some clients visit me for so many years that I have watched them go from mothers to grandmothers!”

Denise’s advice for aspiring businesswomen is to believe in yourself and to treat your customers how you would like to be treatedyourself.

Attention to detail

WHEN you are abroad - whether it is because you have a second home in Spain or you have relocated here - you will want to know that if anything happens you can deal with someone in English and with the highest level of attention to detail.

That is where Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL can help.

Offering all types of insurance, from pets to homes to cars, Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL provides specialised policies, all in English, and all aimed at your exact needs.

Both their Liberty Seguros and ASSSA policies have special divisions, created exclusively for expats’ needs. To support these policies, Jennifer has two very special, unique additions to her com -

pany, a dedicated Claims Administrator and a Renewals Department, which means you will be contacted every year to check your policy at renewal. Again, all in English and all with a personalised service. There is no such thing as an automatic renewal, where you can lose control.

Jennifer initially specialised in health insurance, on the Costa Blanca in 1992, but it was not long before she was asked to expand into general insurance. The company, still led by Jennifer Cunningham, has an extensive network of eight offices with an expert team who can tailor make the policy for you to suit all your needs and that of your family.

Jennifer’s philosophy is that of straightforward and honest advice, which is still instilled in all her staff members up and down the coast. Jennifer is

passionate about her team providing a professional quality of service to all her clients.

It is vital that the advice offered with regard to coverage is taken to ensure you are never under-insured, which offers you better protection should you have to make a claim. To be advised by an assessor that you are under-insured, will be the start of a nightmare.

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL offers all types of in-

surance, including cars, motorcycle, classic car, health, dental, comprehensive home, second home, public liability, commercial, landlord, funeral, travel, life insurance, pets, and marine policies, and Jennifer is very proud to be working with both Liberty Seguros and ASSSA to provide quality policies

Inspirational leader

THERE are some people in life who, as well as building their own success, do their utmost to help others along the way too. Jennifer Cunningham is one of those people.

A determined, passionate lady who keeps herself fit through healthy living and an inspiring enthusiasm for helping others, Jennifer’s story is a stirring one that relates courage, dedication and the incalculable benefits of a positive mental attitude.

Having moved to Spain in the late 1980s, Jennifer soon found herself alone with only a half-finished home and widow’s pension after her husband sadly passed away.

Many will recall the transformative moments in their lives when they stood, changed but unbroken, and found the strength to continue by channelling their love, rather than letting themselves become overcome by fear. And Jennifer began the long road towards developing her own life, and helping others along the way.

From humble beginnings working

from the simplicity of her own bedroom, Jennifer managed to apply her experience working in health insurance to eventually become a household name on the Costa Blanca, admired for her forthright attitude and prudent advice.

It certainly wasn’t an easy feat. At the beginning Jennifer wasn’t computer literate, which means that like many others she didn’t have a clue how to use the darned machines. Learning from scratch blessed her with a more empathetic understanding of the difficulties faced by her fellow expatriates in Spain however.

Jennifer initially specialised in providing health insurance locally on the Costa Blanca when she set out in 1992, but it was not long before she was asked to expand into general insurance. Her company, still led by Jennifer, now has an impressive network of eight offices with an expert team who can tailor make the policy for you to suit all needs.

Despite her astronomic success, Jennifer is still a hands-on Managing Director though and she keeps

herself and her staff aware of changes to Spanish insurance regulations and laws, keeping a steady hand at the helm of the company. She is also well-known and respected throughout by Spanish nationals and especially expats for offering excellent service.

This is because her company, Jen -

for her clients.

So if you are concerned about protecting your valuables, home or car and want great customer service in English, contact Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL on 966 461 690 or for more information, visit www.jennifercun ningham.net.

They look forward to hearing from you and becoming one of our valued customers.

nifer Cunningham Insurances, was built on the principle that a personal, one to one service was fundamental to ensuring that people’s needs are properly met and that real interaction can never be replaced with the detachment of the telephone or internet.

Jennifer also has her own sound advice on Bay Radio where she offers valuable and impartial insights.

It is even spreading further afield to cover all of Spain, including Malaga, Barcelona and Madrid.

More than simply a caring and successful businesswoman though, Jennifer is one of the many inspiring figures who quite simply make the Costa Blanca far better place to live.

Jennifer is a born leader.

The team provides a professional quality service to all clients.

Jennifer is an inspiration to many.

A keen eye for detail.

CREATING BEAUTIFUL SMILES

THE European Dental practice has been established on the south west coast of Mallorca for over 27 years. Situated in the nearby region of Palma Nova, at the Mercadona Shopping Centre-Son Caliu with excellent parking facilities and public transport.

The practice offers comprehensive modern dental treatment for all the family. An all-female team will welcome you to a friendly and relaxed environment where you are given the time to explain and understand your dental treatment. The staff are multilingual, speaking English, Spanish, Catalan, German, French, Slovakian, Polish and Arabic.

As well as routine dental examinations and oral hygiene advice, a wide range of cosmetic and clinical treatments are carried out such as veneers, crowns, bridges and dental implants.

The team comprises of two generalist Dental Surgeons, a Doctor in Maxillofacial Surgery, a Doctor in Endodontics, a Hygienist and two Dental Nurses.

Tips from the top

KNOWING what you want to do in life is one issue in itself, but knowing how to start can be another one entirely.

Comprehensive dental treatment.

At the European Dental Practice, facial rejuvenation is offered by the Maxillofacial specialist as well consultations for facial aesthetic improvements.

The practice is well equipped with modern technology as well as digital radiology. The surgeries are spacious and bright and have wheelchair access. Same day emergency and denture repair appointments are offered. For the elderly or non-mobile patients, home visits can be arranged for a variety of treatments.

That’s why the Euro Weekly News has put together this list of some of our tips, collat ed from successful businesswomen, on how to achieve success in your own venture. Follow your heart Working is something you have to do day in and day, so make sure its some thing you enjoy do ing. Having passion for what you are selling or the service you are offering, is the best way to start as this will be your driving force.

Do your research Whilst passion is great for your business idea, you need to make sure what you are offering is what people want to buy. Taking some time out to do market research could

Women putting the ‘business’ into showbiz

WHILE the word ‘business’ tends to conjure images of well-heeled professionals sitting behind desks or at the head of boardrooms, not all business looks quite so traditional.

Whether its producing, directing or acting, there are women making millions in the that business they call show business. Among them are multiple names who have taken the world by storm, and left their own mark on the industry at the same time.

One of the biggest names that spring most immediately to mind for those living in Spain is Penelope Cruz Sanchez, or as we know her; Penelope Cruz.

Born in Madrid, she is the daughter of Eduardo Cruz, a retailer, and Encarna

Sanchez, a hairdresser.

Cruz’s first big international hit was again with Almodovar, in All About My Mother (1999), where she played an un- chaste but well-meaning nun.

Since then the Spanish star has appeared in a range of big films from Vanilla Sky (2001), and Captain Correllis Mandolin (2001) to Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) and Nine (2009).

Married to megastar Javier Bardem, Cruz has since increased her wealth and profile even further with her own production company.

While Cruz may be one of the biggest names in Spainand the world- there are tens of actresses also killing it, both creatively and financially.

The highest grossing ac tress in the world, Scarlett Johansson shot to fame aged 19 in Lost in Translation alongside Bill Murray. She’s since grossed an astonishing $15.2 billion across 40 films. As the actress says, "I went through this realisation that acting, at its heart, is the abil ity to manipulate your own emotions."

Now so well-known for her global lifestyle super brand, Goop, that it is easy to forget she is also a hugely success ful actress, Gwyneth Paltrow has been starring in some of the biggest films for more than 20 years.

With an Oscar win and a worldwide gross of $11.6 billion behind her, Paltrow says, It's a waste of time for people to say

pay off in the long run.

Start small You need to get the cash flow going as soon as possible, but do not overstretch yourself to start with. Focus on getting your product right and treat those first (and second, and third, and every client along the way) customers as kings and queens; their experience of your company could make or break

Be brave Start now - there is never a perfect time, perfect image, perfect weight, or perfect set of circumstances. Put yourself out there now. Now is the perfect time. Whether working from home or setting up an office or shop, always check with your local town hall and lawyer about how to run your own business.

PENELOPE CRUZ: Has had a stellar career on the big screen.

Beauty Clinic Mallorca

HAVING been in business for 12 years, the Beauty Clinic Mallorca offers a range of facial and skin rejuvenation treatments, refreshing and revitalising clients’ appearance by creating a natural look.

Erik Koerge MD, owner and creator of Beauty Clinic Mallorca, has extensive experience in antiageing procedures in cluding minimally inva sive therapies to improve skin quality, texture, facial contour and tightening.

Following his studies and work in Germany and Estonia, Dr Erik moved to Mallorca

with his family in 2011. Deciding he wanted to stay on the beautiful island, he opened Beauty Clinic Mallorca to continue his passion for

aesthetic treatments.

Dr Erik has unrivalled knowledge and practice in the field of wrinkle injection, wrinkle treat -

ments, and facelifts without the need for surgery, in addition to being trained at the most prestigious institutes. There is no better aesthetics practitioner to help you to create the look you desire using painless procedures.

The clinic uses the leading products to ensure a long-lasting, beautiful result without the need for surgery.

This includes the popular dermal fillers and wrinkle injections, botox treatments, and mesotherapy to prevent and smooth fine lines.

Dr Erik told the EWN: “I enjoy meeting new people at the clinic and making new connections. It is important to look well-groomed because the first impression is the most important!”

So, whether you are a resident or on holiday, Dr Erik and his team of professionals are ready to welcome you for a FREE consultation to discuss the perfect treatment for you.

BEAUTY CLINIC: Discuss with us the perfect treatment for you.

Something different

L COQUI is the collaboration of Julia Guzmán, her husband Matt, and Therese Lexert, designed around their motto: “When you are ready for something different.”

With Julie from Puerto Rico and Therese from Sweden, El Coqui offers home-made Caribbean-inspired fusion food where flavours from California, south Florida, the Caribbean, northern Spain, the Mediterranean and Sweden combine. Julia and Therese are excited for their first season together at this vibrant restaurant, opening on April 13.

We asked Julia and Therese what makes El Coqui such a unique restaurant: “Our food is homemade from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. We find our own

Stepping stone to greatness

AS children we are often taught that failure is bad.

Doing badly in a school test often ends in some sort of punishment.

El Coqui

meat, vegetables and fish, and everything depends on the season.”

El Coqui is the creation of an experience, offering a place where customers come for the food and stay long after their plates have cleared to enjoy the atmosphere. Therese and Julia are passionate about making people feel happy through food, and have many years of experience in

the industry. Brought up by single mothers, Julia and Therese are inspired by this: “It’s amazing to see what our mothers have achieved and what they went through. We have a real admiration for that.”

With regard to advice these successful businesswomen would give, they said: “Have a business plan and don’t take anything for granted. Have courage and you can make it - you are the person who knows what’s best for your business.”

El Coqui welcomes you to their opening on April 13 at 6pm.

Address: Carrer Ramon de Montcada 13, Santa Ponça - Facebook: @elcoquisantaponsa Reservations: 682 345 402 or 660 821 824

As a result, many of us enter adulthood thinking our failures are a negative, a sign we’re just not good enough at something, or a reason to be ashamed of our attempts.

But what if the reality was actually the opposite? What if it’s our failures that in fact give us the tools we need to achieve massive success?

Here we have rounded up a selection of household names who initially struggled to get where they are today.

Oprah Winfrey, the American talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist had a rocky start to life. She was brought up in a low-income family and says she was once sexually abused. She became pregnant at age 14, but lost the baby and went to live with her father.

She was fired from her first job on a local television station, but has since gone on to become one of the most popu- lar, influential and wealthiest women in media with television shows and even her own TV channel.

In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Forbes state her net wealth as around $2.9 billion (€2.7 billion).

In her own words: “Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”

J K Rowling, the woman behind the most famous wizard of all time, Harry Potter, has said she believed she was a failure before penning the novels.

She was a single, divorced

mother suffering from depression and struggling to make ends meet when she wrote Harry Potter. In 1995 all major publishers rejected her book, but a year later Bloomsbury accepted it and in 1997, the book was published with only 1,000 copies.

Today, Harry Potter is a multi-million franchise with books, films and even a West End show and J K Rowling is now considered to be the most successful female author in the UK. Her net worth is said to be around $1.1 billion (€1.02 billion).

She said: “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you’ve failed by default.”

OPRAH WINFREY: Explains that failure is part of the path to success.

FINANCE

Jobs query

million

($28.4 million) was paid in salary last year to the Barcelona-born Spanish businessman, Ramon Laguarta, who is the chairman and chief executive officer of the US multinational PepsiCo.

BUSINESS EXTRA Safe landing

THOUSANDS of jobs in the City are at risk following the emergency merger between the Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse. UBS has 6,000 London employees and Credit Suisse approximately 5,000, but neither bank has yet revealed how the rushed ‘shotgun marriage’ will affect them.

Not so sweet

SUGAR has been more affected by inflation than any other product in Spain, with a 52 per cent price rise. As the country does not produce enough sugar to cover its needs, it has been exposed to international events in general and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in particular.

Outward bound

SUPERDRY, whose shares fell sharply in January, sold its intellectual property assets in much of the Asia ­ Pacific region to South Korea’s Cowell Fashion Company for approximately £40 million (€45.2m). Cowell will own and use the brand in its home market before extending to other countries, including China.

Big money

ACCORDING to Bank of Spain figures, deposits in the country’s savings accounts amounted to €1,612 billion at the end of 2022. Santander, BBVA and Caixabank between them accounted for €935 billion ­ 57.5 per cent of the total ­ compared with 53.8 per cent at the end of 2021.

Booked up

JULIA QUINN, the American author of the bestselling Bridgerton series who has sold 20 million books in the US alone, said she was optimistic that human creativity would survive, despite bookwriting chatbots. Meanwhile romantic fiction sales in the UK have doubled over the past three years.

ECB reassures bondholders

Linda Hall

IN an unexpected twist, investors in Credit Suisse’s additional tier­one (AT1) bonds saw 16 billion Swiss francs (€16 billion) slashed to zero by the UBS takeover. As a relatively risky investment, the AT1 bonds known as contingent convertibles or CocCos are a type of debt regarded as part of a bank’s regulatory capital.

They are also described as ‘bail­in’ bonds introduced to avoid a repetition of the government bailouts required during the 2008 global financial crisis.

Holders can convert CoCos into equity or write them down in certain situations, for example when a bank’s capital ratio falls below a previously­agreed threshold.

The unconventional move of prioritising Credit Suisse shareholders is at odds with the usual practice of favouring bondholders over shareholders when a bank fails and recently prompted turmoil in the market for convertible bank bonds.

Credit Suisse shareholders have received €2.788 billion in UBS shares and giving them preference in the deal was

a departure from usual practice that was criticised in most quarters.

The European Central Bank, the European Banking Authority and the Single Resolution Board emphasised that they would continue to impose losses on shareholders before bondholders.

“This approach has been consistently applied in past cases and will continue to guide the actions of the SRB and ECB banking supervision in crisis interventions,” they said.

Meanwhile, CoCos issued by Spanish banks initially fell by an average 11.1 per cent but jitters subsided, although tension remains. Uncertainty also surrounds the way market will react when banks try to reissue these assets.

New headquarters for GBR

THE UK government has chosen Derby as the headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR) which will be responsible for the country’s trains, fares and timetables.

The announcement brings with it the prospect of more jobs and investment worth multi­millions after the city beat off competition from Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle and York.

“This not only a huge win for the brilliant city of Derby, but a key milestone for the entire rail industry across the

Gap rises

ENERGY SUPPORT pushed up UK government borrowing last month to its highest level for February since records began in 1993. The gulf between spending and income from taxes rose to £16.7 billion (€18.9 billion), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced.

The ONS explained that this was largely due to this year’s outlay on energy schemes.

At the same time, the interest paid on government debt amounted to £6.9 billion (€7.8 billion) in February, £1.3 billion (€1.5 billion) less than in February 2022, owing to changes in the inflation rate that determines the interest the government pays on its debts.

country,” Transport Secretary Mark Harper said.

Derby has had one of the lowest concentrations of civil service jobs in the country

until now, a statement from the city council said.

The move to Derby would not only bring key jobs but it also meant that the city ­ already the centre of one of Europe’s largest rail clusterswould play an even more important role in the future development of the railways, the statement continued. Derby’s rich rail heritage and innovation culture were prominent in the city’s bid, together with its rail­related industries that employ more than 11,000 people in the

Just Eat on a diet

JUST EAT, the takeaway delivery firm, will cut 1,870 UK jobs following reduced sales.

The company experienced a 9 per cent slowdown last year once Covid restrictions were relaxed and diners could return to pubs and restaurants.

As a result, the firm will no longer employ its own couriers, using contractors instead and triggering 1,700 job losses plus 170 operational roles. Drivers and riders affected by the cut­down have received six weeks’ notice.

Unlike Just Eat drivers, couriers were classed as company employees, receiving an hourly rate, an uncapped bonus and benefits that included sick pay.

“We propose to transition away from the worker model for couriers,” a spokeswoman said. “This is just a small part of our overall delivery operations in certain parts of six UK cities,” she added.

SPAIN’S banking sector is in an ‘immensely’ stronger position than it was in 2008.

Financial experts pointed out that owing to regulators’ demands that were made in the wake of the previous financial crisis, banks have had to create an anti­crisis safety net.

This has been designed to protect the economy during a hypothetical financial catastrophe and to rule out the need for a bailout that requires public money.

According to their results made public at the end of last year Spain’s six principal banks can count on an anti­crisis safety net of €213 billion, €43 billion more than required by the European Central Bank.

area, and where trains are still designed and built at the Alstrom works in the Litchurch district.

The first indication that Derby had been successful in its GBR bid arrived last February with the announcement of plans to start major regeneration in and around Derby’s railway station. Another giveaway was city council approval of a £500,000 (€567,145) loan to acquire Midland House and the adjoining car park close to Derby’s Midland Station.

Come and go

MARIO VAZ takes over Vodafone’s Spanish division at the end of March.

This coincides with the exit of the company’s Irish­born CEO, Colman Deegan, following a series of poor quarterly results.

Vaz has had a successful track record in Portugal, which has many points in common with the Spanish market. These include a fully­developed market that combines telephone and data communication within a single network and aggressive competition from the entry of new low­cost operators.

Vaz now faces the challenge of returning Vodafone España to increased earnings and profits, as it faces competition from budget operators like the increasingly­present Digi.

No thanks

ONLY 9 per cent of Britain’s over50s who are retired said the Budget’s pensions giveaway could entice them back to work.

Measures included an increase in the annual pension allowance, eliminating the lifetime limit and hiking the amount that those who have drawn funds can put back each year, but the ‘back to work’ Budget did not sway retirees.

“For most, saving enough to breach the lifetime allowance or the annual pension allowance is a distant pipedream and for others little could induce them back to work,” financial experts agreed.

Down to earth

AENA has lost 90 per cent of the court cases that it has brought against rent defaulters.

Spain’s airports group had unsuccessfully hoped to be able to overturn new legislation affecting the rents paid by retail tenants, but 24 out of 26 sentences were entirely or partly in favour of claimants.

All had called for re­negotiated rents owing to the absence of passengers during the pandemic but the group considered that amendments to the law, obliging it to drop rents during this time, were unconstitutional.

ECB: Preference will go to bondholders over shareholders, the European Central Bank said.

MIKE HARPER: Transport Secretary announced Derby as choice for GBR headquarters

Photo credit: CC/DXR

Photo credit: CC/Richard Townsend

Ice cap

MULTIPACKS of Magnums now contain three ice creams instead of four, following a reduction in size from 110 to 100 millilitres last year. Neither has there been a change in the £3 (€3.4) price, which manufacturer Unilever attributed to the skyrocketing cost of ingredients and raw materials.

Pay scales

SPANISH government officials earned more last year than its politicians, with most going to Belen Gualda, who heads the State Industrial Ownership Corporation (SEPI). She received a pretax total of €237,986 compared with the €87,814 earned by Pedro Sanchez, president of the Spanish government.

In fashion

MARKS AND SPENCER recently received upgrades from three City brokers as Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and BNP Paribas raised share target prices and ratings. The latter described M&S as the “most improved brand since Covid” with analysts raising the target price from 140p ((€1.58) to 160p (€1.81).

Seat bonus

SEAT personnel at the Martorell plant in Barcelona will receive a €1,599 bonus thanks to the carmaker’s 2022 operating profit of €33 million, the UGT and CCOO trade unions announced. The employees will receive the bonus, the largest amount that Seat has ever paid out, on April 14.

Sell it

NOSTALGIA is pushing up the value of retro items like Pokemon cards, Casio watches and Polaroid cameras, which can sometimes fetch thousands of pounds at auction. Millennials and Gen Z could be sitting on a fortune, dealers said, as prices have risen by 200 per cent since 2019.

Centrica boss blasted

CHRIS O’SHEA’S £4.5 million (€5.08 million) take­home pay and £3.7 million (€4.18 million) bonus was greeted with outrage in the UK.

O’Shea is CEO of British Gas’s parent company Centrica and angry consumer groups told him to “examine his conscience” as millions of UK households struggled to pay for heating.

The CEO’s rewards were five times higher than the previous year although that time the Centrica boss waived his bonus owing to high energy bills.

The company announced record profits not long after the Times newspaper revealed that debt agents working for British Gas had been breaking into the homes of vulnerable customers to fit prepayment meters when they were unable to pay their bills.

These disclosures produced protests from consumer groups who had been campaigning for at­risk families to receive more support to help them with­

Visit to Brazil

stand the cost of living crisis.

Downing Street also prompted energy regulator Ofgem to open an investigation into British Gas’s treatment of struggling households.

Centrica’s remuneration committee failed to make any mention in its annual report of the British Gas prepayment scandal.

On the contrary, it defended O’Shea’s annual bonus, maintaining that he had delivered on his objectives of developing an ‘energy transition’ plan.

O’Shea had “successfully navigated challenging regulatory and political issues,” the committee said, at the same time “delivering shareholder value through new investment opportunities and portfolio­shaping.”

Ferrovial’s unknowns

FERROVIAL failed to factor in the unforeseeable when deciding to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands.

The plan remains unchanged, but the Spanish multinational is watching its share price following Silicon Valley Bank and Silvergate Capital collapse in the US, and Credit Suisse in Europe.

Ferrovial will buy out shareholders voting against the Netherlands move at €26.0075 per share in the course of an April 13 meeting. This was arrived at by averaging Ferrovial’s share price over the three months prior to February 27, the day before it dropped its Netherlands bombshell.

At the time, the company contemplated few desertions and, assuming that these would account for a negligible percentage of its capital, fixed a €500 million maximum payout for shareholders opposing the relocation.

Despite the Spanish government’s opposition to Ferrovial’s relocation, the company was confident that this would be plain sailing, until the current financial situation produced fluctuations in its share price. This has since settled comfortably above the €26 mark.

Anything below that would raise shareholders’

FERROVIAL: Infrastructure multinational going ahead with Netherlands move.

doubts, although there is nothing to stop the company from renouncing the €500 million ceiling should enough shareholders decide to bail out.

But this possibility, Ferrovial sources insisted, would not be analysed “until the moment requires it.”

Not enough increase

AMAZON employees working in the UK are planning further industrial action.

The strike warning came as they dismissed a 50p (56.5 cents) pay rise, bringing the minimum hourly pay for warehouse workers to £11 (€12.42).

The company argued that with this latest increase an Amazon worker’s minimum pay will have risen by 10 per cent over the past seven months, putting it above the legal minimum rate of £10.42

(€11.77) an hour for the over­23s.

“We have listened to Amazon workers and the message is very clear,” said Amanda Gearing, a senior official from the GMB union which has backed workers at the Coventry warehouse in the first ­ ever strikes by Amazon’s UK employees.

“This new pay rate is an insult,” she declared. “In response we will be consulting over the next few days and announcing a new wave of action.”

Tous shines bright

JEWELLERY and accessories company

Tous closed 2022 with record sales and its highest profits in almost 15 years.

Ceasing operations in Russia following the Ukraine invasion had a negative impact of €7 million after Tous closed seven shops there and transferred 49 to its local partners. Nevertheless, growth was 17 per cent up on 2021 and 4 per cent above that of pre­pandemic 2019.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depre­

IBERDROLA chairman Ignacio Galan and Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently visited the company’s pioneering energy complex.

The €630 million plant, which is located in Paraiba, in the northeast of the country, will supply electricity to 1.3 million homes while preventing the emission of more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, Galan said.

The complex consists of 15 wind farms equipped with a total of 136 turbines and an installed capacity of 471.2 megawatts, plus two solar plants with 228,000 panels and a 149.2 megawatt­peak capacity.

Doesn’t add up

SPAIN’S young are no longer attracted to a career in accountancy.

Multinationals and small firms worldwide have been warning governments for some time of a decrease of newlyqualified students choosing to become accountants or auditors.

This has become apparent not only at university when young people decide on the studies and future careers, explained a spokesperson for one of the Big Four accountants, Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG).

“It’s not only that fewer graduates want to become accountants,” they said. “Many decide to leave and go on to something different after working for two or three years.”

B&Q locals

B&Q could open at least 50 small and medium­sized stores across Britain. The DIY multinational is meeting the demand for accessible local stores where goods ordered online could also be picked up, B&Q sources said.

ciation and amortisation (Ebitda) grew 26 per cent year­on­year to €101 million and the Catalan company’s net profits rose 60 per cent to €35.7 million.

“In a complicated and changing socioeconomic environment, we have been brave and presented our new brand identity ­ which has been very well received ­ to stay ahead of the market,” said the company’s CEO Carlos Soler­Duffo.

The chain already has B&Q Locals in London and the group has earmarked locations for another 50 nationwide.

Medium­sized sites of between 4,000 and 5,000 square metres are likewise under consideration, in contrast to traditional B&Q centres occupying 12,000 square metres, while the new high street stores would range from 300 to 800 square metres.

CHRIS O’SHEA: Centrica CEO with former PM Liz Truss.

Photo credit: Flickr/Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street

Photo credit: Ferrovial

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

SO there we were; on a deserted Saudi beach, miles from anywhere, surrounded by a number of shabbily attired Arab tribesmen, all of them atop various small sand dunes, quietly staring and oozing menace.

For those readers who last week didn’t peruse the ol’ boys column, this situation had arisen back in the 70s, when I found myself bringing shows into Saudi Arabia, residing and working in the country for some eight years. One thing I had to accept was the utter inequality of the ladies.

In complete contradiction of Muslim law I’d secretly driven my British Saudia Airline hostess girlfriend to a deserted beach, some 50 kilometres from Jeddah. We’d parked the car near the sea and finally stretched out in the privacy of a secluded area we thought to be miles from any habitation. Wrong.

After some half an hour I opened my eyes and drowsily became aware this was indeed not the case at all. We were surrounded. Know ­

Lucky escape

ing the attitude and laws of a country that considered all females second class citizens who were obliged to cover themselves completely, I realised that a beautiful white girl, clad merely in a bikini, was undoubtedly considered trash and easy pickings; while a white foreigner could be permanently removed with a minimum of problems. Time for some extremely diversive actions.

Without moving my head I quietly whispered the dangers to my now comfortably ensconced female companion. Due to her airline status, she was pretty astute and duly proceeded to follow my muttered suggestions. I told her to slowly get up and without lifting the towels or any picnic items, to move over to the car as though she was retrieving something we needed; I then told her to call me to help. This she did. When I heard my name I casually got up and moved leisurely over to the car.

On reaching it I opened my door and as she was already in the passenger side jumped in; quickly

TOO OFFENSIVE? OUR VIEW

slamming both doors of the American Chevy and turning the key, we basically took off. Not quite the take ­ off she was used to, but one that was certainly necessary. In front of us streaming into the rough track and making wild gestures and shouting were about a dozen or so more Arabian tribesmen.

What could I do? I simply kept driving straight at them. Not fast enough to injure anyone ­ as long as they got out of the way, which they duly did. We plunged through the crowd and in clouds of sand and dust thankfully burst free. Believe me, had we not I wouldn’t be here to write this piece. (Hurray!) This is just one glaring example of female inequality in Muslim countries.

If this is the case why does the British left so strongly support Islamic communities and also encourage female equality? It’s impossible. They simply don’t mix and never will. Ask Mr Khan. Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expat radioscotland.com Mon and Wed.

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S novels have been a staple for decades, but this week Harper Collins announced their decision to edit what it deems offensive language from some of her classics.

The changes will affect some of Christie’s most iconic characters, including Poirot and Miss Marple, as well as the hugely popular novel Death on the Nile. But is this censorship or just a sign of the times?

One could argue that after the days of Bernard Manning and Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown the world was definitely due a change.

But has the pendulum now swung too far the other way? And are we now just attempting to whitewash history by taking references to ‘nubians’ and ‘natives’ out of classic novels? After all, those were commonly ­ accepted terms at the time Christie wrote, and if we now remove them do we risk losing examples that could teach newer generations exactly how far the world has come, and why many have fought to change it.

A further risk in what could be seen as censorship is that by telling people what they shouldn’t be doing/reading/thinking, does this really encourage them to question their own view points? Or just alienate them further?

One thing is clear, the debate is far from over.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Hi Euro Weekly LETTERS

I thought your viewers would like to hear my experience with Spain’s bus services. My wife who had a stroke in July and now uses a wheelchair wanted to go to Fuengirola for the day on the bus. Local people said the bus was very good for disabled people, so we set off. The bus pulled up, driver said no and left without us. So I pushed the wheelchair into La Cala. The next bus driver also said no. I asked if I could use the ramp. He said not possible, so two unknown men offered to lift the wheelchair onto the bus. The driver said ok however the same thing happened on the way home. A man came over to me and lifted my wife onto the bus. What I can’t understand stand is why a bus has a disabled logo on the side then you are told you can’t use a wheelchair. Anybody had the same experience as us? My wife and I are both 76 years old.

Regards Jeff & Maureen Milner, Alcantara

Hi Leapy

Unfortunately I am back in the UK for a while due to this ridiculous 90­day rule because my lovely lady has Parkinson’s and thought she would be treated better in the UK. She wouldn’t sign up to being a Spanish resident although we had lived in Spain for circa 13 years and paid all our non­resident taxes and everything we were asked to pay, but I love her so much I agreed. Possibly a mistake, but as they say love is blind. Now I have a gallbladder full of stones, an enlarged prostate which keeps me going to the toilet all night and a hernia that has reappeared after 30 years like a duck’s egg sticking out of my groin. Of course when I went to my doctor’s surgery after paying my National Insurance non­stop since I started work at the age of 15 and on April 6 I will be 75, there wasn’t a chance in hell of it being repaired, so on the 19th I go in to a private hospital here to get it sorted and will leave hopefully ok, but £3,500 lighter. We have also spent a bloody fortune on private health care in Spain so we wouldn’t be a burden on the system but of course it is a repair so not covered. Had it been a new hernia I would have been straight in to San Carlos and it would have been sorted now. I am sure I have bored you beyond belief but actually the whole purpose of this email was for me to see if you could find out who signed off the paperwork to enable that vile scum Glitter to go straight in front of people who have been waiting for months if not years and have a private room and have a very expensive op (at taxpayer’s expense) to have his knees operated on. I myself feel he should have been so far down the waiting list that he would have been long dead before he was called up and hoped he had suffered more pain than those poor children that he abused, it just beggars

belief Leapy. Now I know as you say you get so many people contacting you that you can’t reply and I fully understand that but it would be nice to read in the EWN that at least you have voiced your opinion on this. Keep up the good work and although we are back in the UK for a little while we always check your opinions on line and 99 per cent of the time agree with you entirely.

Joe

Dear Sirs

I have just read with great interest your article on applying for a blue badge. I started the process for applying for a blue badge for my husband in February 2020 and he finally received it in December 2022, which is two months short of three years and nothing actually went wrong. Your article seems to imply that your doctor can declare you as having at least a 33 per cent disability. This is not the case. You have to have an interview at the Centro de Valoracion y Orientacion in Malaga. You have to apply for this interview submitting all of your relevant medical history. After submitting the application we waited for this appointment for over two years.

Then several months after the interview for them to award their decision, then we were able to start the process for applying for the blue badge. Never in all of this procedure were we asked to provide passport photos. I have actually heard that the process is now taking even longer. I cannot help noticing recently that there are many unoccupied disabled parking spaces. I presume this is down to the virtually impossible task of actually obtaining a blue badge.

Kind regards

Valerie Neal, Mijas Costa

Just a thought

Lanzarote’s president has a point. Spain’s tourist image is damaged by an irresponsible minority.

For many decades, excessive drunkenness by certain British tourists has been a problem in Spain. The consequences can range from loud, juvenile groups at the next table in a restaurant to fights, vomiting and vandalism in public areas.

This behaviour can ruin a night out or even a holiday for more mature holidaymakers and is an unacceptable inconvenience for local residents.

Other nationalities don’t necessarily drink less than these Brits; the point is that they generally handle it better ­ possibly because they are in better mental and physical health.

David R Worboys

PETS

Keep dogs cool

ALWAYS make sure you and your dog are prepared for Spain’s impending hot weather.

Dog owners are well aware of how to look after their pets but need to take extra care as the weather starts to hot up. Providing plenty of fresh drinking water, water to play in, shade and a cool spot to lie down, always ensure you avoid the midday heat and even into the afternoon as temperatures start to climb. Early morning and later evening walks are preferable.

Frantic panting, extreme salivation, bright­red membranes, and laboured breathing are clear warning signs your dog is overheated. To keep cool at home, put them on a cool wet towel, cooling mat or place them in the breeze of a fan whilst drinking small amounts of cool water. You can pour cool water over their feet, ears and head.

If out and near a body of fresh water, let your dog take a dip to cool down. If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke wet their coat or drench a towel in cool, but not really cold, water and drape it over them. This helps in lowering body temperature and is a crucial step in cooling down before getting them to the vets.

Cat-sitters become playmates

YOU may have had cats yourself, and know cats that demand a playmate. Well Talisker is one such cat. His owners find pet­sitters to care for him at home and then leave for their holidays. What the unsuspecting cat­sitters don’t realise is quite how demanding this intelligent feline can be. Challenging and fun Talisker will always need new pet­sitters.

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!

Processionary caterpillars back early

RESIDENTS and visitors have warned about the early return of the Pine Processionary Caterpillars this year.

Due to the unusually dry hot weather and the lack of rainfall, residents and visitors are being warned to again be extra careful if they have small children and particularly to take care of their dogs and cats against this year’s influx of the Processionary Caterpillars (Thaumetopoea Pityocampa).

Long­term residents of Spain will be used to the annual warning against Processionary Caterpillars but for those new to Spain, it is of the utmost importance to be especially vigilant to these

Image by GaevoyB/Shutterstock

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 undis­

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

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

2. Choose a 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

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.

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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.Housesit match.com.

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

Should I get a pet?

CHECK out the local Pet Rescue Centres if you are looking to get a pet.

Stray animal found

WHAT to do if you find a stray animal in Spain

All pets in Spain by law should have a permanent identification (microchip) in case of loss, change of ownership or death of a pet. In Andalucia, the database that enrols pets is the RAIA (Registro Andaluz Animal Identification), owned by the Andalucian Council of Colleges of Veterinary.

If you find a stray animal, you can contact an authorised veterinarian, call the phone number or e­mail the RAIA, contact the competent service of the town hall (Environment or Health) or the Local Police or Guardia Civil.

Initially you could check if the animal belongs to any of your neighbours or take it to your local vet and they will check to see if it is microchipped. If it is then they will contact the owner. If it is not chipped you could take a look at the Lost Animal pages on social media or put up signs in your local area.

small caterpillars which if ingested can be fatal to household pets. The caterpillars are typically 34cm in length and are orange and brown in colour.

When the caterpillars drop from their nests in the pine trees their poisonous hairs can penetrate the skin and cause instant irritation. Their bittersweet smell also attracts dogs and cats who may try to eat them, with the hairs getting embedded in their tongues.

It is recommended to be extra careful when walking dogs to avoid areas where there are large numbers of these caterpillars. Vital signs to look out for in pets is vomiting and tongue swelling.

There are lots of things to think about if you want to get a pet in Spain. For a puppy, you might have to factor in the cost of vaccination, spaying and neutering, training and socialisation classes, and new equipment leashes, bowls and toys. Puppies require a lot of stimulation and play, and also frequent naps. However, adult dogs are usually up ­ to ­ date on vaccines and already spayed or neutered.

They can have a grasp

on basic commands and may have started some behavioural training. Adult dogs obviously have exercise needs and require mental stimulation. It is important that you can keep up with them.

If you are thinking about getting a pet in Spain why not look at the many varied animal charities and rescue centres rather than purchasing from a pet store or breeder. As well as being less expensive, good shelters and rescue groups will often work with animals in their care to teach them to be social

and well­behaved.

For cats, many shelters evaluate cat characteristics, such as temperament, and they can help you select a suitable cat for your household, personality, and lifestyle.

If this does not reunite the animal with its owner, inform the Local Police or the Guardia Civil so that they can proceed with identification and, where appropriate, temporary accommodation in a centre for abandoned and lost animals, until recovery by the owner.

Talisker loves company, and always trains his catsitters well.

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One arrested after ‘security threat’ at Leeds

ON Friday, March 24, Elland Road stadium, the home of English Premier League side Leeds United was closed down. The action was believed to be the result of a reported ‘security threat’ made on social media.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Premier League club wrote: “Leeds United’s offices, ticket office, Foundation offices and club shop at Elland Road will be closed until further notice on the advice of the police. We apologise for any inconvenience and we will inform the public when normal service resumes”.

“Police were called to attend the stadium following reports of a security threat to the premises. Investigations were ongoing to establish the credibility of that threat. The report was received at 9.49pm on Friday,” a spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police told a news source.

However, Leeds United announced on Sunday March 26 that the stadium was once again open. A statement post­

ed on the club’s Twitter profile read: “West Yorkshire Police have advised Leeds United that Elland Road can reopen, effective immediately. We apologise for any inconvenience and we thank the public for their support”.

A 20­year­old man was reportedly arrested in connection with a ‘security threat’ that was made, believed to have been through a social media post.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Premier League

club wrote: “Leeds United’s offices, ticket office, Foundation offices and club shop at Elland Road will be closed un­

Spain kick off Euro 2024

A 3­0 WIN over Norway leaves Spain level with Scotland on top of Group A in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

til further notice on the advice of the police. We apologise for any inconvenience and we will inform the public when normal service resumes”.

“Police were called to attend at Elland Road football stadium following reports of a security threat to the premises. Investigations are currently ongoing to establish the credibility of that threat. The report was received at 9.49pm last night”, said a spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police.

Spain came through their opening match of Euro 2024 qualifying against Norway with an emphatic scoreline on Saturday, March 25. This was thanks to two late goals from Joselu, the former Newcastle United and Stoke City striker. Making his debut for the national team, he could not have wished for a better start. Luis de la Fuente kicked off his era as the new manager of Spain at Malaga’s La Rosaleda stadium, having replaced Luis Enrique after the Qatar World Cup. On reflection, it now seemed a smart move to hand Joselu his first start in a red shirt.

RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo opened the scoring for the home side after 13 minutes. He latched onto a cut­back from Alejandro Balde and deflected the ball just enough to beat Nyland in the Norwegian goal. Although La Roja dominated for large portions of the game, they could not find that second goal as the clock ticked down.

Just two days short of his 33rd birthday, after entering the fray as a substitute, Joselu scored twice with his first two touches of the ball. In the 84th minute, he met a cross from Fabian Ruiz and headed a perfect finish into the net for 2­0. Just one minute later, he powered home a cross from Oyarzabal with his left boot, sealing the three points for Spain.

ELLAND ROAD: Was closed down to a security threat made on social media.

50.5% of gym goers are women.

Clean sweep for Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE were victorious on Sunday after noon, March 26, in both the Men’s and Women’s Gemini Boat Race 2023 against Oxford on the Thames at Putney in London, as announced on the Twitter Boat Race profile.

In this 168th edition of the Men’s event, Tassilo von Mueller won the coin toss and chose the Surrey station for Oxford. That left Jasper Parish with the Middlesex station.

Cambridge cox Jasper Parish took a gamble ­ that ultimately paid off ­ in steering his team closer to the river bank to search for easier passage through the waters of the Thames in Fulham. This led to his rowers gaining a lead of around half a boat’s length. The Goldie boat subsequently crossed the line to take victory over Isis by 1.3 lengths, for the fourth time in five years.

One hour earlier, in the 77th edition of the Women’s Boat Race, Oxford took the Middlesex station, with Cambridge starting from the Surrey station. Cambridge were also victorious, with Blondie beating Osiris by 4.5 lengths in a time of 20m 29s.

BAYERN MUNICH , one of the true giants of European football stunned the sport on Friday, March 24, by firing their manager Julian Nagelsmann and immediately appointing Thomas Tuchel to replace him.

The shock news was confirmed in a very short and blunt statement from the German club. Posted on Twitter, it read: “FC Bayern and head coach Julian Nagelsmann have parted company. This decision was taken by CEO Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic in consultation with club president Herbert Hainer. Nagelsmann will be succeeded by Thomas Tuchel.”

In a further statement, Bayern wrote: “Tuchel will

Bayern fire manager

receive a contract until June 30, 2025, and will supervise squad training for the first time on Monday. Along with Nagelsmann, assistant coaches Dino Toppmoller, Benjamin Glck and Xaver Zembrod have also been released.”

Oliver Kahn added: “When we signed Julian Nagelsmann for FC Bayern in the summer of 2021, we were convinced we would work with him on a longterm basis ­ and that was the goal of all of us right up to the end. Julian shares our aspiration to play successful and attractive football.

“But now we have come

to the conclusion that the quality in our squad ­ despite the Bundesliga title last year ­ has come to the fore less and less often. After the World Cup, we have played

less successfully and less attractively. The big fluctuations in performance have cast doubt on our goals for this season, but also our goals for the future.”

Second spot

NEW ZEALAND’S premier batter Kane Williamson has moved back towards the top spot in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood is the new No. 1 ODI bowler with India’s Mohammad Siraj slipping to third.

Williamson, a formerly top ­ ranked batter, has moved up four slots to take second position in the list led by Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne after top scoring with 215 in an innings victory over Sri Lanka in Wellington that helped seal their two ­ match ICC World Test Championship se ­

ries 2 ­ 0.

Henry Nicholls, who scored 200 not out and featured in a triple­century partnership with Williamson, has also made rapid progress, moving up 20 places to 27th position. Captain Tim Southee (up one place to 11th) and Matt Henry (up four places to 31st) are the Kiwi players to advance in the bowling rankings.

For Sri Lanka, captain Dimuth Karunaratne is in the top 10 with scores of 89 and 51 while Dinesh Chandimal has moved up one slot to 17th with scores of 37 and 62.

BAYERN MUNICH: Stunned the sport with their news.

Credit: Twitter@FCBayern

Annual boat race.