Costa del Sol 11 – 17 April 2024 Issue 2023

Chefs for Children

Some

MALAGA Provincial Council is promoting the sixth edition of the Chefs for Children charity cooking event, to be held on Monday April 22 with 55 Michelin Star chefs.

The event, which will take place at Anantara Villa Padierna in Benahavís with the participation of 150 schoolchildren, will donate its profits to Autism Spain.

The launch of the event was held at the Benahavís Sabor a Malaga Catering School, where some of the

participating chefs held a meeting with the school’s students including: Benito Gómez, from Bardal; Mario Canchinero, from Skina, David Olivas, from Back; Diego del Río, from

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FREE FREI GRATIS GRATIS GRATIS GRATUITO VRIJ LIVRE G F E GRATIS GRATUIT S G

Photo: Malaga Provincial Council

150 schoolchildren will take part along with 55 Michelin Star chefs.

Pool ban stays

Kevin Fraser Park

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

However, there was little good news at the meeting of the Commission for Drought Management that

took place on Tuesday April 9. Despite the latest rains and the water capacity of the province’s reservoirs now reaching 30 per cent overall, the measures against the drought have been changed very little. The most important relaxation is to raise water consumption on the Malaga coast to 200 litres per inhabitant per day from the existing 160 litres.

“Although the rains have helped to improve the situation, we cannot think that the drought is over, so we must continue to maintain saving measures,” said Ramiro Angulo, Secretary General for Water.

So, the same restrictions on filling swimming pools that were decided before Easter are maintained. Only public swimming pools, those of sports and social clubs, therapeutic pools and those of hotels are allowed to be filled.

The ban on private pools, both individual and communal, remains in place.

The Commission has explained that these measures will be reviewed again

in June, in accordance with the Junta’s Drought Plan.

easyJet expands

BRITISH low-cost airline easyJet will have more than 1.9 million seats for summer 2024, which represents an increase of 7.6 per cent over the same period the previous year.

The company has increased its range of Malaga destinations from 15 to 19, with the incorporation of Athens (Greece), Nice (France) and Birmingham (United Kingdom). The routes will offer three flights a week starting on June 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

easyJet has transported more than 40 million passengers to and from the Costa

del Sol since 1999, when it began its operations at the airport. General manager of the airline in southern Europe, Javier Gándara, said they will be continuing to offer, “affordable and convenient connections to attractive destinations for both tourism and business trips and also to make Malaga an essential destination for Europe.”

He also said that his commitment to Malaga “goes beyond travel”, and announced that this year the company will support the celebration of Pride 2024 in Torremolinos to “continue building a more inclusive town.”

Trip to Ronda

LUX MUNDI are organising a coach excursion to

from Front page

55 Chefs

and bandits of the Serranía de Ronda. Please join them for a fun weekend. There will be a 3-minute stop for coffee along the way and they will arrive at the four-star Hotel Don Miguel, which overlooks the gorge, at approximately 12.30. The stay for two nights is on a bed and breakfast

After checking in there will be free time over the weekend to join in the celebrations until they depart on Sunday at 16.00. There will be a short stop on the way back, arriving in Fuengirola at 18.00 and Torre del Mar at 19.00 approximately. Ticket price: Double room per person €240 with Friends card, visitors €260. Single room €335 with Friends card, visitors €355. Basic insurance included. Proceeds are for fundraising. Departure times: Algarrobo (Lidl) 09.00, Caleta (Vets) 09.05, Torre del Mar (Bus station) 09.15, Fuengirola (Feria Ground) 10.15, Fuengiro-

Lux Mundi Ecumenical Centre in Fuengirola is open Monday to Friday 10.00 to 13.00. For further information please tel 952 474 840 or email luxmundif@gmail.com.

The 150 children from Autismo Malaga and the Daidín and Atalaya schools will participate alongside 55 Michelin Star chefs in a cooking workshop which, under the slogan ‘Eating healthy is fun’, aims to promote healthy eating among children.

In addition, as every year, a gala dinner will be held in the evening with a menu prepared by eight of the Michelin Star chefs. During the dinner, the 55 chefs will share a table with the guests and will raffle an experience in their restaurants. Bookings are now open at ht tps://chefsforchildren.es/

The profits from this gala will be donated to Autismo España, a state-wide association that brings together more than 180 organisations that provide specialised services to the 470,000 autistic people living in Spain and their families.

Photo: Pexels CC Ban on pools remains.

Boho Club; and Manuel Navarro, from Anantara Villa Padierna.

NIBS EXTRA

Sports centre

THE work on the new sports pavilion being built in the southern part of San Pedro Alcantara is 90 per cent complete and is expected to be finished in the summer, meaning the facility will be operational in September.

Tragic traffic

A 50-YEAR-OLD man has died in an accident on the AP-7 near Fuengirola. The accident occurred just after 3am on April 6 when the vehicle collided with the central reservation and left the road.

Timeshare bust

A SCHEME that swindled 155 foreigners out of €1.8 million with timeshares in Malaga has been busted. Seven people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the fraud. Properties in Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona and Mijas were raided.

Coastal plan

ESTEPONA Council has announced that work has begun on a new 440 metre long section of the coastal path between El Saladillo and the Costalita urbanisation, which will connect with the new bridge at Benamara.

Gunmen found

TWO men have been arrested for firing 15 shots at a restaurant in Puerto Banus in March. One of those arrested is British and the other Irish. A revolver, a large machete and over €30,000 were confiscated from houses in Marbella and Estepona.

Tolls reduced

After Easter Week the AP-7 reduced its prices back to the normal rate on April 7, one week after the end of the holiday on the Costa del Sol.

Paseo improvements

MARBELLA Town Hall is undertaking improvements to the Paseo Marítimo in San Pedro Alcantara with the renovation of the accesses to the beach.

The mayor of San Pedro Alcantara, Javier García, explained that this will renovate more than 200 square metres of paving and ramps, “with the aim not only to ensure the mobility and safety of pedestrians, but also to beautify one of the most important spaces for enjoyment and recreation in the town,” he said, adding that, “the promenade is one of the jewels in the town’s crown that requires permanent conservation and maintenance work.”

The next phase will include the installation of solar lighting on the section of the coastal path that joins Guadaiza and Ventura del Mar.

“There are 300 linear metres of walkway that initia-

Mijas foreigners

ON Friday April 5, representatives of the Department of Foreigners of Mijas Town Hall, together with Social Services, held a meeting with the UK consulate to monitor and coordinate the needs of British foreign residents, who in Mijas are around 8,000 people, mostly elderly who are often alone.

“One of the needs we have is to provide a service to people who have not been able to learn the language who, in many cases, cannot express themselves well and do not have family support,” said the councillor for Foreigners of Mijas Town Hall, Mario Bravo.

In 1985, Mijas was the first municipality to create a Department for Foreigners.

After the meeting, discussions continued with the associations of foreigners in the municipality including: the Lions Club of La Cala, Age Care, Age Concern, Soroptimist International and the British Legion.

lly had spotlights embedded in the wood, but which were stolen,” said the mayor, so, “an alternative solution has been proposed: the installation of 16 solar technology streetlights, which also represent a great energy saving.”

Tiger mosquito

FUENGIROLA Town Hall has started a prevention campaign against the proliferation of mosquitoes in the municipality.

The company in charge of pest control, Athisa, is already working in the streams, drains and in those areas where stagnant water can accumulate.

In addition, the council has requested the cooperation of residents to remove from their homes those containers that can accumulate water, such as flower pots, ashtrays or buckets, to prevent the proliferation of these insects.

Councillor for Health, Francisco Javier García Lara, said that, “the tiger mosquito is an invasive species of Asian origin that appeared in the Costa del Sol in 2014.

“The control of this species is different to that of the traditional mosquito, as its larvae develop in stagnant water. In fact, where they proliferate the most is in containers around homes where water accumulates.”

SEEING double has its benefits for anyone reading a new Spanish-English puppy book. ‘Un cuento del cachorro Rex’ / ‘A Puppy’s Tale by Rex’ is a must for bilingual beginners.

Easy to read, the charming story of abandoned dogs growing up in a loving forever home is, “a really engaging resource,” said BBC Education. Living with his owner and other dogs, Rex teaches children how to care for and respect others regardless of age, size or colour.

Illustrated by a schoolboy and written by a grandmother, A Puppy’s Tale by Rex is an educational book with 72 pages and 40 hand drawings. Fuengirola residents Chris Dove and child entertainer María del Mar edited and translated the tale, available online as an eBook and paperback.

Proceeds shared with ‘Dogs of Malaga in Need Organisation’ (Domino).

IN 2021, AREME (Foreign Residents Association of Estepona) wrote to the town hall regarding the lack of ramps on a footbridge crossing the A7 at Benamara/Benavista.

On September 27, 2022 AREME received a letter from Ana Velasco, deputy mayor in charge of all infrastructure in Estepona stating the town hall had agreed to their request however they required the petitioners to raise around €16,000 to pay for an engineer’s report and licences.

Up in the air

Between September 2022 and February 2023 AREME contacted a number of local urbanisations and businesses as well as using its own reserves to commission the report.

On March 10 2023, Estepona Council sent all necessary documents to the Ministerio de Obras Publicas (MOPO) in Malaga Capital which is in charge of roads and bridges in the Province and apart from a query which was quickly dealt with in November 2023, approval is still awaited.

A typical footbridge with ramp.

Accessible streets

ESTEPONA Town Council has received 12 bids to carry out the project for the remodelling of the central Calle Terraza. The aim of the work is to transform one of the most commercial streets of the town to make it more accessible, safe and sustainable and to integrate it into the pedestrian areas of the historic centre.

This action is part of the call for aid to strengthen commercial activity in tourist areas financed by the EU’s Next Generation Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience, for which €2.4 million has been earmarked.

The aim of the project is to prioritise pedestrians by building a single level that will provide a sense of spaciousness to the entire urban area, generating a uniform environment that will guarantee universal accessibility. In addition, the

new project will renew the current paving by incorporating safer materials for pedestrians which reduce the risk of falls or trips.

Brian Bamford MARBELLA will host the third Charity Walk on Saturday April 20 for the benefit of the Association of Volunteers for Children’s Oncology (AVOI), with the aim to take 70 children, to whom they provide care, to the Camino de Santiago.

70 children to Santiago

The work on Calle Terraza is part of the project to revitalise the historic quarter, ‘Estepona, Garden of the Costa del Sol’, which the Estepona Town Hall has been working on for the past decade and which has so far managed to remodel more than 130 streets.

In all of them, the aim has been to improve the spaces around the shops, with the aim of promoting and revitalising social, commercial, cultural and leisure activities.

The walk, which once again has the support of the city council, will begin at 10am for children and at 11.15am for adults, in the Avenida del Mar, as part of a day that will also feature recreational activities for all attendees in the Paseo de la Alameda.

The councillor for Sports, Lisandro Vieytes, said that the event will have around 700 participants and underlined that, “the combination of sport and charity is perfect for a city like Marbella, which is always involved in this type of event, as in the case of

the ‘Marea Rosa’ (Pink Tide).”

Marbella’s councillor for Fiestas, Yolanda Marín, said that, “this race is already a tradition within our annual programme and we will provide children’s entertainment, a charity bar and live performances by rock groups.”

The children’s activities after the race will begin at around 12.15pm, and will inclu-

de magic performances, as well as a Disney music show. In the afternoon, at around 5pm, the musical performances for adults will begin and, at the same time, there will be workshops for children. As for the races that start the day, the children’s race will be in the direction of Malaga and the adult five kilometre race will be in the opposite direction.

Photo: Marbella Town Hall

Photo: Estepona Town Hall

A combination of sport and charity.

The central street is being remodelled.

Car fire Banus

SAID to be Spain’s oldest established pawn shop, Anthony’s Diamonds has been a household name in Fuengirola for decades.

Recently they expanded and opened a second site, Anthony’s Antiques in luxurious Puerto Banus to cater for the trade of those who want to buy, sell, receive a loan or have a repair undertaken on top quality items in the Marbella area.

There was a heart stopping moment however outside of the new store on Tuesday April 9 when a vehicle suddenly burst into flames right outside Anthony’s.

Happily, the engine fire was soon brought under control and according to a spokesperson for the Fire Brigade, it appeared to be a simple (but expensive) fault with the vehicle overheating.

Anthony’s in Banus can be visited at the Centro

Comercial Cristamar C. Francisco Villalón opposite El Corte Inglés whi-

lst the original shop is in Av. Ramón y Cajal, 40 in Fuengirola.

THE mayor of Mijas, Ana Mata, and the councillor for Beaches, Daniel Gómez, have raised the Blue Flag on the coastal path. This distinction is awarded annually by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC).

The mayor explained that Mijas has had this distinction since 2016, for which it meets a series of criteria divided into four categories: characteristics of the trails and routes; information, signage and infrastructure on the trails; conservation and management of natural and cultural heritage; and public use of the trails.

“This recognition encourages us to continue working so that Mijas continues to be a benchmark in the quality of the services it provides and which it is everyone’s responsibility to look after and maintain. With awards such as the Blue Trail Flag, we are also highlighting the wealth of our coastline, which is of great importance not

Blue Trail Flag

only for visitors but also for the residents of our municipality,” she said.

The coastal path of Mijas is a pedestrian path that runs parallel to the Mediterranean from La Cala to the municipality of Marbella. In addition

to being a backbone, it has great scenic value as it allows you to learn about the characteristics of the fauna and flora of the area thanks to the information panels distributed at different points along the route.

The car on fire outside Anthony’s.

Credit: Thomas Barnes

€115 million new stadium

Kevin Fraser Park

MARBELLA Town Hall has begun the procedure to allow Marbella FC Foundation to start the new stadium project with an investment of between €115 and €130 million and adapted to become the official sub-host of the World Cup of Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030.

Demolition and construction will begin after the summer, announced the mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz. It will increase its capacity from 8,000 to 10,000 spectators and will have a 1,500 square metre high performance centre, a commercial area, a car park with 1,000 spaces and a sports residence with 90 rooms.

Between 1,600 and 2,300 new jobs are expected to be created and the project will

take three years to complete.

“It is going to become a reality thanks to the drive, decision and seriousness of the club in complying with the requirements that were established” said the ma-

The new project will begin after the summer.

yor, adding that, “this will mean a qualitative leap for the town that goes beyond sporting matters.”

The club took advice from international bodies including FIFA and UEFA to ensure that the stadium complies with the regulations that will allow it to become an official sub-host for the 2030 World Cup.

Working together

MARBELLA Town Hall brought together representatives of Tourism and Resident Foreigners from various municipalities at the Adolfo Suárez Trade Fair and Congress Centre to discuss and work on common projects and ideas to bring local government closer to an ever-growing community that is choosing Marbella as a place to settle.

The city is the third in Spain in number of nationalities, with 153 different nationalities and there are currently over 50,000 foreign citizens registered in the city. “The data confirms the fact that we are an open, cosmopolitan and multicultural destination with a great attraction for those who wish to live here,” said Marbella councillor, Remedios Bocanegra.

The meeting was attended by the mayor

THE musician from Marbella, Juan Delola, has just released a single called ‘Así es Marbella’ (This is Marbella) with the special collaboration of the Malaga singer Celia Flores on vocals.

This composition is the main soundtrack of Marbella’s new promotional campaign for 2024 and was recently presented at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid.

Now the full version of this new song by Juan Delola has been released,

of Istán, José Miguel Marín, the councillors of Benahavis and Fuengirola, Scott Marshall and José Luis Ponce, respectively, Estepona councillor, Begoña Ortiz and the staff of the Foreigners’ Departments of Manilva, Estepona, Torremolinos and Mijas.

At this meeting they discussed issues of interest to these groups related to the census, contact with associations and groups, local and state bureaucratic procedures, communication strategies (websites and social networks, among others), resident profile and how to address their different needs.

Also attending on behalf of the consular corps of the province were the honorary consuls of Denmark, Marisa Moreno, of Lithuania, Enrique Sánchez, and of Luxembourg, María José Sánchez.

This is Marbella

where he pays tribute to the city where he was born and where he has always lived and still lives. The production and recording has been done entirely in Malaga, with the participation of different musicians from the province.

Juan Delola is a guitarist and composer with a rock and flamenco background, his career is closely linked to Andalucian rock and he has relea-

sed five albums to date. Throughout his more than 25 years in music, he has been part of countless groups, projects and shows of different styles, performing all over Spain and in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

He is currently producing and directing the show ‘Noche Andaluza’, a tribute concert to groups and artists of the Andalucian Rock movement of the late 70s and early 80s.

Photo: Marbella Town Hall

Flags are flying

BEACH SEASON: Playamar has received the award for the first time.

ECOBEACH flags, awarded by the Technical Association for the Management of Waste and Environment (ATEGRUS), are already flying on the coast of Torremolinos, at the beginning of the beach season that started with Easter.

The mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, attended the hoisting of the Ecoplayas flag on the beach of Playamar, a distinction that recognises beaches that stand out for quality and that Playamar has received for the first time.

The award for this beach is in addition to the renewal of the Ecoplayas flag for the beaches of Los Alamos and La Carihuela. This has been possible because the town has managed to exceed the requirements set by ATEGRUS with a firm commitment

to sustainability and the environment with actions such as the campaign ‘Mójate por el medioambiente’ (Get wet for the environment) launched in summer 2023.

ATEGRUS said that the Playamar beach has obtained the recognition for, among other things, for the implementation of the campaign, which got the users of the showers to rinse their feet with sea water as a water saving measure.

In addition, the four beaches of the Torremolinos coastline (Los Alamos, Playamar, Bajondillo and La Carihuela) managed last summer to renew the ‘Q’ for quality, a distinction awarded by the Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE), which accredits the beaches as those with the best environmental conditions and the best level of facilities.

Mountain adventure

CASARES Town Hall is promoting adventure sports with two ‘Via Ferrata’ routes. A safe climbing activity that is available from April to June, with a free guide service and which also includes all the necessary equipment.

Víctor Román from Aventura Casares explained that the excursions are established according to demand, in small groups of four people. The only requirement is to be over 14 years old, be in relatively good physical shape and not to be afraid of heights.

The first trail is a beautiful and direct route to the ruins of Casares Castle; situated on the limestone cliff of the Tajo de La Planá, on which the ruins of the Casares Castle are located, there are impressive views of the coast of Malaga and even Africa and the Rock of Gibraltar. The second trail is interesting for its two bridges, the route is easy and suitable for beginners.

Both routes have in com-

mon the end point where the ruins of Casares Castle are located and are rated K2 difficulty (relatively easy), although a certain amount of physical preparation is required to complete them. There is a practice area at the start where those inte-

rested can test their ability.

All the details of the routes can be found on the website www.aventuracasa res.com where you can also make reservations by email info@aventuracasares.com or by phone or Whatsapp: (+34) 696 480 646.

Photo: Wikimedia CC

Helping the children

THE team at Specsavers Ópticas in Fuengirola have signed an agreement to collaborate with the children’s home Ciudad de los Niños and give any child in their care, who needs them, a free pair of glasses. They will also be sponsoring days out to the Mijas Aquapark during the summer months, for the children to enjoy their time off school that little bit more.

David Bradshaw, Optical Assistant at Specsavers Ópticas Fuengirola explains how this collaboration came about. “I was able to visit the Ciudad de los Niños last Christmas. I was very impressed with what they are doing for the 46 children in their care. They give these vulnerable children a place to live, quality education and everything they need to overcome the difficult situations most have

come from. Studies have shown that poor vision holds children back from performing well at school. So, we thought we could help by providing free complete eye tests and glasses, valued at €89. The Director of Ciudad de los Niños Juan Correa Ruiz explains, “It is fantastic to be receiving this support from Specsavers Ópticas in Fuengirola to en -

sure that our children’s vision is clear, and that they can perform to the best of their ability at school. Ciudad de los Niños is located in Malaga and has been helping children since 1977, giving them a home, an education and the opportunity to integrate into society.”

Visit www.specsavers .es to find your nearest store and request an eye test.

Golden Visa scrapped

THE government’s decision to eliminate the ‘golden visa’ that allows foreigners to obtain a residence visa by investing in housing in Spain, has angered politicians and businessmen on the Costa del Sol, who believe that this measure will do nothing to slow down the rise in property prices.

On Monday April 8, Spain’s President, Pedro Sánchez, announced that: “We are going to eliminate the Golden Visa concession that allows access to resident status when more than €500,000 is invested in real estate,” adding, “we are going to take the necessary measures to guarantee that housing is a right and not a mere speculative business.”

The news has come as a cold shower on the Costa del Sol, one of the areas with the highest concentration of luxury homes in the country, largely in the hands

of foreigners, in municipalities such as Marbella, Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis.

The president of Malaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, said that the Sánchez government, “is trying to hide their neglect of investment in public or subsidised housing by attacking tourism once,” and went on to say that residential tourism is, “a huge source of income and employment for the country and the Costa del Sol,” as it has favoured the arrival of residents with high purchasing power who pay “many taxes and duties” here.

“It is absurd to think that the ‘golden visa’ has raised housing prices for young people,” said Salado. Councillor for Tourism, Foreigners and Local Development of Benahavís, Scott Marshall, agreed saying, “You can’t blame foreigners for the price of housing and rents.”

Photo: Shutterstock / Pheelings

Optical Assistant David Bradshaw with the Director of Ciudad de los Niños Juan Correa Ruiz.

Photo: Pexels CC

European Youth Capital

MALAGA has been chosen as a finalist for European Youth Capital for the second year running.

The city of Malaga has been chosen as a finalist in the race to become European Youth Capital,

an award granted by the European Youth Forum (EYF). Malaga returned to compete for the second consecutive year after it was also chosen as a finalist for the European Capital of 2026,

which was finally won by the Norwegian city of Tromso.

Malaga, together with Fuenlabrada, have been the two Spanish cities selected for the final of the European Youth Capital, together with Chisinau (Moldova), Parma (Italy) and Skopje (Macedonia).

A process that is expected to culminate in the autumn with the official announcement.

The EYF, an organisation that works closely with the European Commission and is made up of more than 100 organisations representing 10 million young people across the continent, awards the European Youth Capital status to those municipalities that develop a comprehensive strategy to support youth and the participation of young people in government decision-making.

Castle renovation

Kevin Fraser Park WORK has begun on the conservation and renovation project for the Castillo de San Luis in Estepona, a coastal fortress built in the last quarter of the 16th century, the remains of which are located in the historic centre of the town and have remained hidden and unused for almost a hundred years.

The first phase of the work taking place now consists of cleaning, conservation, stabilisation and consolidation of the existing remains, as well as the elimination of invasive plants attached to the structure.

The final objective is to renovate this monument, which has remained hidden and unused for almost a century, and turn it into a museum centre, according to the mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano. To this end, a roof will be placed

over the archaeological remains, which will not be visible from the outside, and which will enable the interior space to be used as a museum room.

In addition, a walkway will be installed to allow visitors to tour the interior of the castle and the remains of the different historical phases of the building that have been discovered during the earthworks and archaeological excavations that have been carried out.

Finally, the project foresees the installation of several panels and audiovisual elements to help in the interpretation of the castle’s surroundings, as well as a space to exhibit collections of historical interest. The works will cost over €500,000 and are financed through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan-Next Generation EU Funds.

Conservation project.

Photo: Estepona Town Hall

Organic Estepona Green transition

Kevin Fraser Park VERITAS is the leading organic food supermarket chain in Spain with more than 7,000 certified organic products and it is opening two shops in Estepona, one at El Paraíso and one in the future Estepona Park shopping centre.

The opening of these two shops, El Paraiso opened on Thursday March 21 and Estepona opened on Thursday April 11, marks the arrival in Andalucia of this company, which has been operating in Spain for more than 20 years. Its intention, from here, is to continue its expansion throughout the rest of the province of Malaga.

The Veritas El Paraíso shop has more than 400 square metres where it offers more than 6,000 organically certified products with a commitment to local and seaso -

nal produce.

The second store, Veritas Estepona Park, has 372 square metres and is located at Bulevar San Geronimo, number 1, next to the athletics stadium and the Felipe VI municipal auditorium. Its opening coincided with the opening of the retail park.

“This is a geographical area with a high potential and an unmet demand for ecological products.

In addition to these two projects in Estepona, Malaga occupies a strategic place in the future plans of Veritas, which is considering expanding its retail park in the area in the coming months,” the company announced in a statement.

The Veritas organic supermarkets brand was created in 2002 with the aim of making organic food accessible to everyone.

FUENGIROLA has planned several innovative projects to make the town a more sustainable tourist destination with initiatives that will focus on four areas: green transition, energy efficiency, digital transformation, as well as improving economic competitiveness. They are all part of the Plan for Sustainable Tourism promoted by the regional government, which results in €2.5 million of funding towards the projects.

“Our commitment to new technologies in the management of the town is helping Fuengirola to be recognised as a place of well-being. Innovation and Tourism go hand in hand,” said Mayor Ana Mula

Among the projects being implemented are: green canopies for taxi ranks, air purification in urban tourist areas and new organic waste management systems. In terms of improving energy efficiency, the plan foresees the creation of a network of electric vehicle recharging points, the purchase of urban utility vehicles for municipal services and the creation of a network of electric bicycles.

In the section dedicated to digital transformation, the plan envisages: automation of processes at the new Tourist Office; artificial intelligence solutions; a marketing and social media plan and virtual reality tools for historical heritage.

In order to strengthen Fuengirola’s competitiveness, the programme foresees the creation of a Tourist Interpretation Centre (in the former Tourist Office) and the implementation of a network of accessible sustainable tourist establishments.

ORGANIC FOOD: Making it accessible to everyone.

Photo: VeritasGastropub

Dental Titan

ALTHOUGH he is just nine-yearsold, Damien Mark is a young man with a mission who with the help of his father Dr Sam Mark has set up his own charity.

He was inspired by a group of Ugandans who visited his school, Aloha College several months ago and he was inspired to create Dental Titan, an organisation fronted by a super hero who represents bravery, courage and strength.

Damien knew that several years ago, his father Dr Mark had travelled to both Peru and Cape Verde to offer practical advice on dental care and he wanted to do the same for children in Uganda.

Thus Dental Titan was created some six month ago and funds are being raised so that this dream can come true.

On May 29, Damien, father Sam, mother Samira and brother Soheil who is also a dental surgeon will be flying to the Ugandan capital, Kampala at their own expense on this mission to save teeth!

Working with a local dentist, they will spend five days in a compound (similar to a gated community in Spain) in Kampala teaching dental hygiene, undertaking fillings and extractions using their own instruments which they will ship over from Spain.

dition they will spend two days in local slums (‘barrios’) bringing their dental experience to some of the poorest people in the capital.

Although all travel and accommodation costs are being paid for by the AAura Dental Group, there is a need for additional funding so that they can take as many branded caps, t-shirts and footballs as they can with them to give to those who are being treated and who have so little.

As well as collecting boxes in the surgeries, there will be a free open event at the AAura Dental surgery Av de Manolete, 14, Nueva Andalucia, 29660 Marbella from 7pm on Friday April 19, where visitors will be welcomed with a bite to eat, music and a fashion show as well as details of what they plan to achieve in Uganda.

For Damien, this is a long term project and he hopes that following the visit to Uganda, he will be able to arrange a visit to another African country where there is a need for dental help, primarily for children but for adults in need as well.

To find out more or to donate visit https://dentaltitan.org/ as well as YouTube Dental Titan and Instagram.

John Smith

Damien and father Sam Mark wearing their Dental Titan caps.

Credit: EWN Media Group

Dental Titan founder, Damien Mark.

Animal advocacy

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

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

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

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

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

pressing issues facing humans like homelessness and poverty.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image: Shutterstock/ Ann Tyurina

Image: Shutterstock/ Elizaveta Galitckaia

Fountain of hope

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A total of 355 people joined together at City Museum in St Louis, Missouri, to set the record for the largest gathering of people wearing underwear on their heads.

The idea came about as the museum is hosting the touring Science of Guinness World Records exhibition, produced by Ripley’s & Science North.

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

The pants on display at the museum were created in 1997 by St Louis-based artists Pat Eby and Ann Paidrick. They have a 16-foot waistband and are seven feet wide and six feet tall when laid out.

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

Guinness World Records

Plethora of pants

Adjudicator Michael Empric was invited to the museum to count the number of people who dropped by to pop a pair of undies on like a hat. People were on hand with hundreds of pairs of pants, handing them out to museum fans who came along

to join in the fun. Everyone was required to gather together and keep the underwear on their head for a full minute, with just one person being deducted from the final count, a child who removed their makeshift hat before the time was up.

TREVI FOUNTAIN: Funding charity.

Tossing phones

Eva Alvarez

IN Finland, there’s a lesser-known sport that’s gaining attention: the Mobile Phone Throwing Championships.

Originating in Savonlinna in 2000 as a fun idea by Fennolingua, this event draws participants worldwide to fling phones across Finland. As the sport gained popularity, competitions began to spread across Europe and even reached the United States.

Athletes from diverse backgrounds now compete annually, aiming to set new records and earn coveted prizes. While the event usually takes place in August in Finland, in Spain, it coincides with the lively Carnival festivities in Tarragona, typically held in February or March, adding to its international appeal.

Competing in the championships is simple: participants aim to throw their phones as far as possible

using various techniques, including traditional overthe-shoulder throws and inventive freestyle methods. Teams of up to three members can also join in, adding a collaborative element to the competition.

Additional points are awarded for creative choreographies, with prizes including new mobile phones and trips to the World Championships in Savonlinna.

Beyond the thrill of competition, the Mobile Phone Throwing Championships embody Finland’s unique culture and commitment to environmental sustai-

nability. Rather than being discarded, old phones collected from participants are repurposed for the competition. These phones are then dismantled and recycled to extract valuable materials like metals and plastics, reducing electronic waste and promoting resource conservation.

As the championships continue to attract global interest, they serve as more than just a sporting event. They represent a celebration of Finnish culture, blending innovation, humour, and environmental consciousness.

Kate’s cookery course

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

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

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

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

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

She reportedly stayed at the prestigious Ballymaloe House and visited the scenic Ballyshane Coastal Retreats with a friend.

Engaging in a short but intensive twoand-a-half-day cooking course, Winslet is

among the celebrities drawn to Cork’s vibrant culture and culinary prestige.

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

Kate Winslet’s visit resonates deeply with her iconic role in Titanic. Cobh, just a short drive from Ballyshane, holds a significant place in Titanic’s history, as it was the final port of call before the ship embarked on its ill-fated maiden voyage across the Atlantic.

With its rich cultural tapestry, Cork continues to enchant individuals from all walks of life, including those from the glitz of Hollywood.

KATE WINSLET: Improving her kitchen skills.

Credit: GabboT/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

One of the many participating competitors.

Credit: Screenshot YouTube

Passengers stranded

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

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

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

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

but each time we are informed we are told that the departure is delayed with a lot of uncertainty and nothing clear.’

He later added: We ask the Spanish company/authorities to find a quick solution to continue with our trip’.

The Spanish and Bolivian authorities collaborated to speed up the necessary administrative steps. The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the predicament of its nationals on MSC Armonia, highlighting their departure from Brazil for a Mediterranean tour.

MSC Cruises have confirmed they were working with Spanish officials to address the issue, stating the passengers’ documentation appeared valid at the time of boarding in Brazil. Despite this, it was later revealed the visas were invalid for entry into the Schengen area.

Moving with times

A CHILDREN’S shop in Mestre in the Venice area is listing prices for its pushchairs, prams and children’s wear in Bengali as well as Italian.

More babies are now born in the town (population 88,552) to immigrants from Bangladesh than to Italian, according to officials at Mestre Town Hall.

“It’s an obvious development,” shop-owner Andrea Cecchetto told a local newspaper. “You just have to look around to see how many Bangladeshi mothers there are walking around.

“The world has changed

and the cities too, Mestre is no exception,” Cecchetto said. “We have to move with the times.”

By 2022, the last year with official figures, 150,692 Bangladeshis were living in Italy, which made them one of Italy’s largest immigrant populations.

The majority live in the Lazio, Lombardy and Veneto regions, although there are also large communities in Rome, Milan and Venice,

according to figures from the Bangladeshi embassy in Rome.

The first Bangladeshis began to arrive in Italy at the beginning of the 1980s as industrialisation, a declining birthrate, and an ageing population made it necessary to look outside the country to supplement the workforce.

In 1987, 1990, 1996. 1998, 2002, 2009, 2012 and 2020 the Italian government offered general amnesties to illegal residents, including those in the Bangladeshi community.

Left without internet

ON April 19, Telefonica will completely turn off its ADSL services across Spain, marking a significant transition on its 100th anniversary.

sent over existing telephone lines at much higher speeds than traditional dial-up.

This initiative by Telefonica, aimed at shutting down the obsolete copper network infrastructure, seeks to replace it with more efficient fibre optics.

This modernisation effort promises enhanced performance and requires fewer exchanges to connect the population. It’s not just Telefonica taking this step; Vodafone and Orange are also transitioning their ADSL customers to fibre optics.

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, a form of DSL broadband communication technology. It allows data to be

Unlike its successors, ADSL utilises the copper wire infrastructure, distinguishing itself by offering different speeds for upload and download. This technology revolutionised internet access in the late 90s by providing a constant connection that didn’t interfere with telephone use.

Despite the push for this upgrade, a notable 444,000 ADSL lines remain operational, risking disconnection if not switched to fibre optics.

After April 19, Telefonica customers still on ADSL will find themselves without home internet, necessitating a switch to alternatives such as mobile networks.

MSC Armonia pictured in Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands. Credit: Frank Vincentz/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

LOW BIRTHRATE: Bangladeshi babies outnumber Italian new borns.

Welcome to Hell

George Cunningham

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

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

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

Most head for the major landmark, the Hell

railway station, where people are photographed under the famous sign ‘Hell Station - God Expedition’.

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

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

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

These carvings give

KING FREDERIK and Queen Mary of Denmark are facing criticism following their recent Easter holiday abroad. Since ascending to the throne in January, the royal couple’s holiday marks their second break, sparking discontent among the Danish people.

Royal commentator Julia Melchior revealed that many citizens are displeased with the lack of public engagements by the monarchs since their succession. However, she defended the royals, citing King Frederik’s emphasis on family time, as highlighted in his book ‘Kongeord.’

The exact location of their Easter getaway remains undisclosed, but a Palace

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

Besides its historical significance, Hell has modern stuff too.

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

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

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

Throne trouble

spokesperson clarified that Queen Margrethe had to assume state duties in Frederik’s absence.

Despite the controversy, Melchior assured that the King and Queen are committed to their roles, with plans for extensive public appearances in the near future. Their inaugural foreign state tour is scheduled for this summer, starting in Sweden, and includes visits to the Faroe Islands and Greenland, demonstrating their dedication to representing Denmark both domestically and internationally.

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The company’s goal is to make the process, whether buying or selling, as easy as possible for their clients by offering professional support and advice every step of the way. They use cloud-based software, automated processes and di-

gital channels to streamline and simplify legal work, which ensures greater availability and better communication.

Originally set up to provide legal services to Swedish clients, the company’s reputation soon led to clients from other countries taking advantage of the service they offer. Whether you are from the Scandinavian countries, eastern Europe, UK or USA, Nordic Property Studio has professional lawyers, speaking Swedish, English and Spanish, working for you.

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Discovering Hell.

Image: Visit Norway.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Shelling out

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

Broken toys

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

Chelsea pad

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

Grifols mission

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

Family affair

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

STAT OF WEEK

€15 billion

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

Can Royal Mail deliver

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

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

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

The Royal Mail sugges-

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

This pledge was received with relief by wee-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Highs and lows

Nice little earner No trains today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First appearance Blown away

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

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

Sevilla in Saudi Revolution revelations

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

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

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

Photo credit: CC/Naturgy Energy Group

Photo credit: CC/Kolforn

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

FRANCISCO REYNES: Naturgy chief executive announced increased profits

Fare play

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

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

Double trouble

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

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

On track for Egypt

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

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

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

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

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

Dorna Sports takeover

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

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

Dorna Sports’ management.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Office jobs

BIG FOUR accountant

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

Flight plan

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

Photo credit: CC/Geograph Britain and Ireland

SCUNTHORPE WORKS: British Steel plans blast furnace closures.

It’s all a charade

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

Feathered fiasco

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leapy

Image: Thameslink /

Spring fair

LA GRANJA DE ANTONIO in Alhaurin El Grande is hosting a Spring Fair with art, wine, food and music from 11am on Sunday April 21.

Their first spring fair has amazing participants and their products, live music, food and drinks so go and enjoy an afternoon full of fun for the whole family, including children’s activities plus a daycare service for men (they will be taken care of at the bar/terrace area!). There will be stalls selling: handmade ceramic tableware, wine, jewellery, fashion, drawings, paintings and sculptures. For food you can expect a sourdough bread workshop, home-smoked meat and fish and much more.

La Granja de Antonio is located near the town of Alhaurin el Grande where you will find a large authentic farmhouse surrounded by flowering bougainvillea and tropical plants. Their Spring Fair market will be open until 4pm. Of course you can stay afterwards to enjoy the music from Marcus Myers who will be performing on the terrace.

ARE you a fan of the Bee Gees or Shania Twain? On Saturday April 13, you can’t miss the show at the fantastic Admiral Arena in the San Roque Casino, an exciting concert in tribute to the legendary Gibb Brothers: Bee Gees and Shania Twain.

‘The Bee Gees Experience’ is the name of this tribute show featuring a revival of the classics of Bee Gees, the iconic British group that made history in the world of disco music.

For two hours, the artists will transport you to the legendary concerts of the Gibb Brothers between 1977 and 1980, during the golden age of disco

The Bee Gees Experience

music. Additionally, you will enjoy the unforgettable songs from the 1977 movie ‘Saturday Night Fever’, starring John Travolta.

But that’s not all, the show also celebrates the great hits of the music star, Shania Twain. There is no doubt that it will be a unique night where you won’t be able to stop dancing and you’ll immerse yourself in an unforgettable era of music! Don’t miss it!

The advance ticket price is €20, on the door the price will be €25. Phone for reservations: +34 633 647 260.

Opening time is 8.30pm and the concert will start at 10.30pm.

Ruta de la Tapa

A NEW edition of ‘Estepona Vive sus Calles’ (Estepona lives its streets) with the 13th ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ comes to Estepona from Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14.

The event will feature the National Ham Cutters Competition ‘Trofeo Popi, Ciudad de Estepona’, musical performances and the show ‘La Magia de la Vida’ against childhood cancer.

The Ruta de la Tapa will feature almost 30 establishments, both in the centre of Estepona and in Cancelada, all of which will offer a tapa and drink (beer, soft drink or water) for €3 or tapa and wine for €4. It will take place on Friday, from 8pm to 11pm; on Saturday, from 1pm to 4pm and from 8pm to 11pm; and on Sunday, from 1pm to 4pm.

Those who take this gastronomic tour can collect their passport at the Tourist Office in the Plaza de Las Flores, at the Mayor’s Office in Cancela-

da or at the participating bars and restaurants. In this way, they will be able to receive the five stamps needed to vote for the best tapa in town. A prize of €1,000 will be awarded to the ‘Best Tapa’ and there will be a prize draw among the citizens who participate with their vote.

For the little ones, the ‘Family Day’ party will take place on Saturday from midday to 6pm in the Plaza Augusto Suárez de Figueroa and in the Plaza del Reloj with games and other activities.

On Sunday, from midday to 4pm, Calle Real will be the stage for the National Ham Cutters Competition. The finishing touch to ‘Estepona Vive sus Calles’ will also be on Sunday with the Municipal Music Band concert at 1pm in the Plaza del Reloj.

The complete programme of activities is available at the town hall, the Tourist Office and the Padre Manuel Cultural Centre.

Photo: Flickr CC / Salomé Chaussure

Kevin Fraser Park

Photo: Facebook / Marcus Myers

charity gala

David Hart

ON Tuesday April 30 Torremolinos will host a charity gala ‘The best of our decade’ with performances by Xenon Spain, El Regreso de La Década and DJ Cherry Coke, along with many other artists, who will bringthe best hits from the 80s to the 2000s.

“The proceeds will go to help the associations Fuensocial, TEAcompaño, Asociación CaPAZ and the Club de Deporte Adaptado Al-Andalus Torremolinos, with a common denominator, to help children and adolescents with special needs,” said the mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid.

The gala, which has the support of Torremolinos Town Hall, is organised by La Fábrica del Arte Producciones and will take place at the

Palacio de Congresos from 8.30pm.

“A party of pure nostalgia, which is going to have this magnificent stage as a backdrop. But not only the venue and the artists are an incentive, but also the purpose, as all the proceeds, both from ticket sales and the bar service, will go to support the work of the associations.”

Xenon Spain, one of the most well-known LGTBQ+ characters in Spain said: “Thank you mayor for your support, this charity gala helps the associations of Torremolinos that do wonderful work with children and adolescents with special needs. The way I can help these associations is by creating a great gala that everyone enjoys and whose benefits go to them.”

A total of 1,000 tickets will be on sale at a price of €15.

Traditional music

host the 36th Malaga Tunas Contest in a two-day event that will bring together 12 groups and more than 170 musicians in their ‘tunas’. The event will take place on Friday April 12 and Saturday April 13 and will include parades, performances, a contest and many more surprises.

cen-

tury as a means of students to earn money or food.

A ‘tuna’ is a group of university students in traditional university dress who play musical instruments and sing serenades.

There will be 12 groups from all over the province of Malaga, Granada and even from as far as Mexico.

The tradition originated in Spain in the 13th

On Friday, at 7pm, a parade will start and a competition will take place in Calle Malaga and in the Casa Museo. On Saturday things will start at 4.30pm with the contest of the participating tunas in the Plaza Virgen de la Peña.

The event is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Tuna de Medicina de Malaga and its leader, Rafael Zuazo, said, “we have chosen Mijas because we have a long tradition of coming to the town throughout the year to play in the bars, on the street, the people know us and, the truth is that we feel very loved here.”

Photo: Mijas Town Hall

Photo: Torremolinos Town Hall MIJAS will

Lark In The Park

David Hart

ARE you funny? Do you make people laugh? Can you tell a good joke and not put everyone to sleep? Perhaps you are good at impressions?

Well in that case, you should join the new ITS Comedy Company. They are auditioning for a group of funny folk who want to perform in the summer charity show on Sunday June 2 at ‘Lark In The Park’ in Benahavis.They will be performing the ITS ‘TV Comedy Sketch Show’ featuring all the favourite characters and sketches from the past and present UK TV. Auditions will take place on Saturday April 13 from 12.30pm at Age Concern in San

Pedro, Pasaje Armando No.2, 29670

San Pedro Alcántara.Take with you a short monologue (maximum two minutes), a joke or sketch that best shows off your comedic timing to make everyone laugh in the aisles, and be prepared for anything silly on the day! The performance will take place on Sunday June 2 so you must be available for rehearsals during May.

Its is purely a volunteer organisation who love to perform so there are no fees to be paid or expenses, just lots of laughs.

If you require any further information please contact director Fiona Poole on +34 711 055 153.

Walk for charity

THE 16th Charity Walk, organised by Malaga City Council, will be held on Sunday April 14 from 11am, with a route of around two kilometres starting and finishing at the Eduardo Ocón municipal auditorium on Paseo del Parque and passing through Malaga’s historic centre. This year the proceeds will be donated to the ‘Tierra de Hombres’ foundation, which is dedicated to helping families affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Tickets to support this solidarity initiative cost just €2 and can be purchased in the sports section of El Corte Inglés (both in the Avenida de Andalucía and Bahía Malaga shops), Copyrap (Calle Buenaventura, 6) and in the Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda (formerly Tabacalera). On the day of the walk, tickets will also be available for purchase from 9am in the Eduardo Ocón Auditorium.

For the purchase of each ticket, a t-shirt will be given out, which can be collected on the day of the event before the start of the walk, as well as a return Metro ticket for use on the day of the walk. There is also the possibility of collaborating with the ‘Tierra de Hombres’ foundation by buying tickets, even if you are unable to attend the walk.

Photo: Facebook / Caminata Solidaria de Málaga

Photo: Flickr CC

Patriotic party

ST GEORGE’S DAY is being celebrated in Plaza de la Mezquita, Arroyo de La Miel from 1pm on Tuesday April 23. A day of non-stop entertainment has been planned for all the family featuring some of the Costa del Sol’s top acts in a day of live music, food and drink in Benalmadena.

Hundreds of patriotic English residents, along with locals and visitors, will come together as they did last year, which marked the first time a large-scale event had been organised to mark the feast day of England’s patron saint.

Organised by Benalmadena-based entertainer Cath John, the festivities will be held in Plaza de la Mezquita and will include a variety of live music until late in the evening.

The Costa Soul Singers will perform alongside the Andalucia Performing Arts Society (TAPAS), Wayne Ward, Rock of the Ages, Tony Whitehouse, The Disclaimers, The Rude Boys and many others.

Age Concern Fuengirola, Mijas & Benalmadena will conduct this year’s raffle to raise vital funds for the charity. They are looking for prizes so if you have unwanted gifts or bottles, or maybe a business could offer a voucher they would be grateful for your support. You can leave any prizes at the Age Concern Charity Shop or contact Michelle on 619 792 738.

Fancy dress is optional (but encouraged) and the event will also cater for anyone missing a taste of England featuring food and drink with an English flavour provided by local residents.

Resident days

TORREMOLINOS will dedicate three days to the culture and gastronomy of different countries in the ‘Jornadas

that, “this enormous diversity has shaped the character of Torremolinos for many years.” She added that, “our

del Residente’ (Resident Days) from Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14.

The event was launched by the mayor, Margarita del Cid, and the councillor for Events, José Manuel Ruiz Rivas.

The mayor said that Torremolinos has 125 different nationalities and

town is a place of open arms, which enjoys its cultural diversity and origin.”

The ‘Jornadas del Residente’ is an event programmed around a gastronomic fair, crafts and musical performances, which will allow the enjoyment of residents

and visitors during the days of celebration, with numerous nationalities present.

The Plaza del Remo will be divided into two different areas, one for crafts and the other for gastronomy and music. The aim of the stands is to show part of their folklore with performances on stage, tastings of typical products, all promoting the multiculturalism of the town.

A total of 12 organisations will offer more than 30 musical performances over the three days and visitors will be able to enjoy the food from Latin America, Germany, peru, Cuba and many others

The event is is free and will be open on Friday April 12 from midday to 11pm, Saturday 13 from 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 14 from 11am to 5pm.

Kevin Fraser Park

Photo: Benalmadena Town Hall

Photo: Torremolinos Town Hall

Fundraising on the paseo

ON Sunday April 21 at midday you can take part in a gentle walk while fundraising for Age Concern’s Hardship Fund. The walk starts from Kala Kalua Chiringuito on the paseo at San Pedro. The walk is to Puerto Banus and back, which will take around one hour, but you can do as much or as little as you feel like. Well behaved dogs are welcome (on a lead) and afterwards there will be a lunch at 1.30pm. Book in advance and pay €10 donation on the day.

A pedigree

THE Wasps are back again for their third year at Fuengirola’s famous and massive international fair located in the Recinto Ferial (where the Tuesday market is held). They will be performing in the British Hall, the ‘Cavern Club’ on Saturday May 4 at 1pm.

The International Fair of the Countries of Fuengirola, previously known as the People’s Fair, returns on Wednesday May 1, with the inaugural parade that will tour the streets of Fuengirola and will remain open continuously, from 1pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday, and on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday until 2am.

The Wasps are a Powerpop/Punk band first formed in East London in1976 with original lead singer/songwriter Jesse Lynn-Dean. They were there at the start of the UK Punk rock move-

ment, along with the likes of The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Damned, Buzzcocks, UK Subs, Sham 69, Stiff Little Fingers, Subway Sect and many more.

During the ‘76-’77 period They performed extensively at venues across London and the UK such as The Roxy, The Vortex, The Bridge House, Music Machine, The Marquee among others and performed live twice on BBC Radio 1’s John Peel show. Their singles ‘Teenage Treats’ (a favourite of Peel’s) and ‘Can’t Wait ‘Til ‘78’ consi-

dered Punk classics from that period.

Jumping forward to 2024, Jesse Lynn-Dean has reinvented The Wasps with creative and talented musicians, with a pedigree in Punk and afficionados of UK Punk ‘76-’79 era. They are all currently based on the Costa del Sol and in 2022 released their brand new album, ‘Punk Prayer’ which is available now on Vinyl and CD.

Don’t miss the chance to see them live at the Fuengirola International Fair, admission is free.

Please confirm attendance in advance to: info@ ageconcernmarbella.com. Age Concern Marbella and San Pedro is keen to tackle the loneliness that many suffer in their later years in Spain without their families here to take care of them. The Hardship Fund was set up to help those who are struggling financially and this walk will help those in need as well as being an opportunity to meet other people living in the area.

LA TÉRMICA, the centre of contemporary culture, is going on tour and has organised a free, openair daytime event in Torremolinos with live music, a street market and food under the name ‘La Térmica Village’.

On Saturday April 13, the event will be held in the gardens of the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Centre in Torremolinos, it’s free and will start at midday. President of the Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, said that the idea is to, “take the spirit of La Térmica to other parts of Malaga, offering a space full of activities, concerts, stalls where you can buy handicrafts and locally produced items, a place for all ages to enjoy.”

A stage will be set up for musical

La Térmica Village

performances, which aim to combine local bands and artists with more established names, mainly from the indie scene. The music will be provided by Nena Daconte and Vera Fauna, along with the band Lord Malvo from Torremolinos and sessions by Nana Pure DJ and Kaya Dj. But La Térmica Village is much more than that, in addition to the stage, there will be a swing dance demonstration and a design market, with around 20 exhibitors, which will feature crafts and products from Malaga, decoration and design, illustration and photography, jewellery and fashion stalls.

In the gastronomic section, several food-trucks and bars will be set up. There will also be a space to rest and connect with nature called the Bosque Sonoro (Sound Forest).

Floral art

THE next meeting of the Estepona Floral Art Society will be on Tuesday April 16 when they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary with cava and tapas at 1.30pm followed by a demonstration from Nigel Whyles.

Nigel is a fully qualified florist with over 25 years’ experience and numerous awards including a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2011. He is a member of the National Association of Flower Arrangers and has been one of their National Demonstrators since 2012.

The event will be held at their usual venue - El Paraiso Golf and will cost €20. All Nigel’s arrangements will be raffled at the end of the meeting. For more information please email esteponafloralartclub@ hotmail.com, view their Facebook page or call 636 349 399.

Michael Carrington

Photo: Facebook / Nena Daconte

Photo: Wikimedia / DCarolina

A night at the opera

Kevin Fraser Park

THERE will be an opera evening on Saturday April 20, at La Trapiche Theatre in San Pedro. Two world class sopranos, Lise Houben and Eilana Lappelainen will sing Italian and German love arias by Puccini, Bellini, Wagner and Strauss, accompanied on piano by Anna Maria Cali.

Lisa Houben is a Dutch-American soprano who began her international career with Puccini’s Tosca. Her warm timbre and passion for drama brought her to prestigious stages worldwide, including the Opera of Tome, Palermo’s Teatro Massimo, La Fenice in Venice and Carnegie Hall. Finnish-Canadian soprano Eilana Lappalainen has become one of the respected interpreters of Strauss’ Salome. Since her 1996 role debut in the acclaimed Felsenstein produc-

tion, which performed for six consecutive years, she has performed the role in Seattle, New York, Nashville, Kentucky, Warsaw, Trieste, Mannheim, Tokyo among others. The Opera News review of the Seattle production states: “Lappalainen’s extraordinary physical lightness and agility, her diverse vocal palette and her grasp of the character’s complexity were deeply moving.”Tickets for this wonderful evening are €30 and can only be pre-booked and paid for in advance.

Seats are based on first come first served, doors open at 7pm. For reservations please email artedecultura marbella@gmail.com , call Shane +34 722 551 987 or contact Valierie Houben by email: vhouben2000@yahoo. com.

Casares fair

THE eighth ‘Degusta Casares Gastronomic and Cultural Fair’ has been announced. The fair will take place on Saturday April 20 and Sunday April 21, a weekend to enjoy Casares, taste typical dishes, such as gazpacho casareño or recipes with local products. This year’s event incorporates a ham cutting competition in the extensive programme that also includes: a tapas route, craft market, games for children, competitions and live music. The full programme can be downloaded here - turismocasares.com/ degusta-casares-2024-programa/. The Tapas Competition is open to all catering establishments in Casares and each participating restaurant or bar must prepare a tapa specifically for the competition. The competition

organisers must be informed of the name of the tapa before the start of the Fair.

Natural ingredients and local products must be used in the preparation of the tapa. The jury will be made up of all the people who come to taste the registered tapas, who will be able to cast their vote anonymously by means of a ballot paper in a ballot box located at the information point of the gastronomic fair.As every year, coinciding with the Fair, Casares Town Hall is organising the Façades and Alleys Competition for those people who live in the historic centre of Casares and who have decorated the entrances to their homes with natural seasonal plants in flowerbeds and pots.

Photo: Facebook / Eilana Lappalainen

Photo: Casares Town Hall

10th Anniversary tour

DEEPER PURPLE is a group of seasoned professional musicians from Spain, Germany, UK and Greece who, having given up on the idea of being invited to join the great band, decided to get together and form as authentic a tribute as possible.

After all, it takes some doing to encapsulate the music of a band who have been going for over 50 years and worked through so many different line ups.

Deeper Purple are: singer Luka Ravase, local guitar hero Rob Sas, bass player

Phil Crombie, drummer Thomas Hauser and keyboard player Dave Chapman.

Deeper Purple heavily feature the classic Deep Purple MKII line up, faithfully reproducing the excellent ‘Made in Japan’ album as well as other songs from that lineup. With a blistering set consisting of all the classics and the best reproduction of the Purple live sound you’re ever likely to hear, Deeper Purple will deliver the ultimate rock experience!

In April they start their 10th anniversary tour of the UK which is the biggest they’ve yet undertaken. If you haven’t bought your tickets to one of the shows yet, head over to the website at www. deeperpurple.band and secure yours.

And the best news of all is that the band is bringing the 10th anniversary tour to Spain later this year, headlining Verano Rock at Plaza Vincent in Sabanillas on Saturday June 22. And it’s free admission to see this amazing band.

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Fiesta Marbella

A FRESH wave of music will be washing over the coast this summer so, brace yourselves for Fiesta Marbella, a brand new music festival set to shake up the Spanish coast this summer at Marbella Arena.

As well as chart-toppers past and present, Fiesta Marbella brings you familiar sounds, rising stars, and a unique blend of musical genres that will have you dancing beneath the Andalucian sun and into the early hours.

Fiesta Marbella isn’t just about the music; it’s about the experience. Sway to the vibrant rhythms of an orchestra, lose yourself in the energy of electronic beats, and dance to the bass sounds of your favourite nightclub acts. Each day and night will be a different adventure and it starts with: Centreforce 883 on Wednesday August 7 at 7pm until late.

One of the biggest names in the UK dance music scene

from around the world. Live acts and world-famous DJ’s will bring unique nightclub vibes to Marbella, this is a house party you cannot miss – see you on the dance floor!

Next up is on Thursday August 8 when Arabian Nights brings illustrious artists from the middle east to Marbella Arena. Picture an Arabian evening where the air hums with anticipation and excitement.

The atmosphere crackles with energy as talented dancers sway to the rhythmic beats, their movements telling stories of the region’s rich cultural tapestry.

The stage ignites as the soirée becomes a haven of luxury and entertainment, a convergence of art, tradition, and modernity, leaving guests enchanted by an unforgettable evening that echoes the vibrant soul of the Arabia and its history.

For more information and how to book your spot at Marbella’s most anticipated summer event see

Alchemy Project

THE group ‘Alchemy Project’, brings to the stage with exquisite fidelity of sound, instrumentation and scenography, what is considered one of the most relevant live performances in the history of Rock.

‘Alchemy by Dire Straits’, recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in is a favourite of every Dire Straits fan and lovers of rock mugeneral. A concert which was recorded after a tour of 240 concerts all over the world and at the peak of the English

This concert, part of the Alchemy Project’s tour of Spain, is on Saturday June 15 at 10pm in the Teatro Auditorio Felipe VI of Estepona. It will be very popular so secure your tickets now from the theatre website: tafestepona.com.

In addition to the full Alchemy concert (which contains great classics such as ‘Sultans of Swing’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet’), the tribute band’s repertoire will include emsongs from later eras, such as ‘Brothers In Arms’, ‘Money for Nothing’, ‘Your Latest Trick’, ‘Walk Of Life’ and ‘So Far Away’.

This is an impressive two and a half hour show, which has enjoyed excellent national and international reviews.

Photo:Shutterstock/Malimbo

Stray cat tapas

FOR all cat lovers, there is a super charity event in favour of the Mijas Felina association, a market where you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of homemade tapas: sweet, savoury and vegetarian. It’s on Sunday April 21, from midday to 4pm at the restaurant Koco Bistro located in Mijas Pueblo (Avenida Virgen de la Peña n3) in front of the town hall.

The ‘Asociación Para La Defena Del Gato Asilvestrado En Mijas’, better known as ‘Mijas Felina’, was created to neuter cats from stray colonies and reduce the overpopulation. The volunteers cover different areas of Mijas: Sitio de Calahonda, Riviera del Sol, Las Lagunas and Fuengirola among others. In Riviera del Sol for example, the cat population has been substantially reduced thanks to the efforts of the volunteers.

The event will feature an artisan market with homemade products, jewellery and much more. There will also be a stand with some of the association’s volunteers and above all the event will help all the stray cats out there.

Londonbeat in Marbella

Kevin Fraser Park

GET ready for a night full of rhythm and energy with Londonbeat in concert in Marbella. The iconic British group that blends R&B and dance, arrives in Marbella to make you groove to their unforgettable hits. From their debut in 1988 until today, they continue to light up the stage with their infectious music. Londonbeat are a British dancepop band who scored a number of pop and dance hits in the early 1990s. They currently consist of vocalists Jimmy Helms, Jimmy Chambers, and the band has released six studio albums and numerous compilations. In April the band will give several concerts in Spain for the first time including

Marbella on Friday April 26.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy classics like ‘I’ve Been Thinking About You’, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991. The song was released during the gulf war and fans with loved ones in war zones connected with the words and the feelings of their song. The song went to number one in the charts in 27 countries and more than five million copies were sold making Londonbeat global popsuperstars. Join the party on April 26 at Villa Padierna Golf Resort, Marbella, for a unique musical experience. Get your tickets now at https://2together.live/Londonbeatmarbella/ and secure your spot at this unmissable event.

Photo: Facebook / Londonbeat

La Sala Puerto Banus: The Ideal Venue for Every Celebration

LA SALA Puerto Banus

proudly announces itself as the quintessential venue for all your celebratory needs, regardless of the occasion. Nestled in the heart of luxury and excitement, the venue promises an unrivalled setting to elevate any event.

From birthday parties to anniversary soirees, corporate gatherings, and baby showers, La Sala Puerto Banus stands as the go-to destination for unforgettable experiences. Boasting their newly refurbished Live Lounge, which saw an investment of €250,000, with seating for approximately 70 guests and standing room for up to 120, creating the perfect exclusive setting for any celebration.

The stunning interior at La

Sala Puerto Banus and versatile spaces make it the perfect choice for a sophisticated and stylish celebration. Guests can embark on a culinary journey, where the talented kitchen team curate exquisite menus showcasing a delightful selection of international cuisines and signature cocktails. With options ranging from A La Carte, Bottomless Brunch, Set Menus, to Canapes, there’s something to satisfy every palate and occasion.

Entertainment takes centre stage at La Sala, with access to the finest musicians, DJs, and live acts along the coast. Whether guests seek a relaxed atmosphere or a lively celebration, La Sala Puerto Banus ensures an unforgettable

experience.The dedicated events team ensures that every detail of each event is meticulously planned and flawlessly executed, allowing guests to relax and enjoy every moment. Conveniently located in the heart of Puerto Banus, the venue offers easy access to the marina, beaches, and various attractions, ensuring a seamless experience for all attendees.

Capture timeless memories at La Sala Puerto Banus against the backdrop of breathtaking views and Instagram-worthy settings, Contact La Sala Puerto Banus today to start planning your next unforgettable event experience contact at reservations@ LaSalaBanuscom or call 952 814 145.

Circus market

Kevin Fraser Park

FROM Friday April 19

to Sunday April 21, the Candelaria Park in Las Lagunas will be transformed into a large circus market set in the 1920s, with a host of activities and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

There will be more than 50 stalls, live music, as well as a dance and fire show with juggling and acrobatic characteristic of the circus world.

“This is a very attractive event to enjoy with the family in Mijas where there is a large number of people eager for activities of this kind,” said councillor, María Francisca Alarcón.

The councillor added

that this thematic market is a very new activity and Mijas is one of the few municipalities that has promoted it.

Throughout the weekend, the Candelaria Park will be the setting for circus performances, balancing acts, circus masks, face painting, balloon twisting, jugglers, puppets and soap bubbles, as well as almost 50 stalls run by merchants where you can buy handicrafts, food and jewellery products .

Queen of Magic

A TRIBUTE to one of the greatest rock bands of all time is returning by popular demand to the Salón Varietés Theatre in Fuengirola on Friday April 19 for one night only.

The acclaimed four-piece live Queen tribute band, Queen of Magic, perform the iconic British band’s songs completely live, including the real sounds of each song so that the audience feels like they are listening to Queen. They have a wide repertoire including all the group’s hits played in a very faithful way, emulating the concert and the sounds that made Queen famous.

Their set includes songs played exactly as on the original albums and other songs recreating the sound and magic of the legendary 1986 Wembley show. The band consists of: vocalist Denyse Sanchez, Jose Maria Gago on bass guitar, David Bermudez on lead guitar and Kini Santos on drums.

The show starts at 7.30pm and you can get your tickets in advance from the Salón Varietés website or from the box office. Ticket price is €20.

Gastronomic landmark

Kevin Fraser Park

THE mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, attended the official reopening of the town’s old Mercado de Abastos, which is positioned as the new gastronomic and social landmark of the Costa del Sol. With five distinctive restaurants, take-away services and six shops to purchase selected products, diners can enjoy a culinary experience in a vibrant and welcoming space. “The rebirth of the Mercado de Abastos is a testament to the innovative spirit of Estepona, offering residents and visitors alike an incomparable culinary experience.

“The reopening is the beginning of a new era for Estepona, where tradition and modernity intertwine to create something truly special for our town,” said García Urbano.

After a long-awaited renovation, the Estepona Market, built in 1949 and functioned as a traditional market until 2018, underwent a complete refurbishment and has now been transformed and reopened.

The 950 square metre centre now offers cuisine that fuses the charm of local gastronomy with a selection of international flavours.

After two years of closure, the market has reopened under the management of Nation Food, run by Hazel Gormley-Leahy with Robin Hall, a Michelin-starred chef, heading up the market’s five restaurants as executive chef. “Opening this market again is a source of great satisfaction for me. My passion for gastronomy, as well as my unbeatable entrepreneurial spirit, have merged in this project to give Estepona back the place it deserves in the culinary scene of the Costa del Sol,” said Gormley-Leahy.

Located on Calle Villa, the market is open from midday to midnight, catering for both locals and tourists. With a capacity for 140 diners inside and another 140 on the terrace. For more information about the Mercado de Abastos de Estepona, please visit their website at www.mercadoestepona.com.

Photo: Facebook / Queen of Magic

Photo´s: Estepona Town Hall

Spring by Candle light

CANDLELIGHT concerts will light up Malaga this Spring with musical experiences scheduled at unique venues with programmes ranging from classical music to tributes to some of the world’s greatest pop groups. But be quick as tickets are very limited.

On Saturday April 13, the stage that will be extinguished and lit only by candles will be that of the Museo Carmen Thyssen in Málaga. On this occasion, the string quartet Origen will perform some of the greatest soundtracks

of recent decades, including the most iconic songs from films such as Up, Frozen, Pocahontas, Mulan, Mary Poppins, The Lion King, The Avengers, The Mandalorian and Pirates of the Caribbean, among others. Tickets for the 8.30pm show are already sold out, and for the 10.15pm show, tickets start at €32.50.

On Sunday April 21, in the Salón Real of the Gran Hotel Miramar, there will be a tribute to Hans Zimmer and his great repertoire of soundtracks that have marked great films such

as Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, Dune, Top Gun, Batman and Inception, among others. It will be performed by the string quartet Résonance, at two times, 7pm and 9pm. Tickets start at €30.50.

Finally, a tribute to Queen by the string quartet Résonance is scheduled for Friday April 26, at 5.45pm and 7.45pm. It will take place in the Sala Unicaja de Conciertos María Cristina and will feature classics by the band such as Somebody To Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, I Want To Break Free, We Are The Champions and Under Pressure. Tickets from €18.50.

All tickets are available from the website: fe verup.com.

Marina market

A CHARITY market has been organised together with the Platform for the Promotion of Volunteering in Estepona which will take place on Saturday April 13 from 10am to 3pm on the esplanade of the marina, next to the control tower.

The associations and organisations that will be present are AECC Estepona, Red Cross, Entre Gatos, ASDIES, Manos Unidas, Pax Cultural, Asociación Canina de Estepona, ADFIA Respira, Niños Grandes con Autismo or Luisana, among others.

At their stalls you will be able to buy various products and craft items. This charitable initiative has a double objective: to help the associations present, through the purchase of articles and also, to publicise the work that each group carries out. Manuel Raigón, managing director of the Estepona Marina has invited everyone who wants to participate in this market, in order to do their bit for a good cause. The Platform for the Promotion of Volunteering in Estepona is a non-profit organisation created in 2007 and is made up of a wide range of associations and groups thawork in the field of volunteering.

Spring Fiesta

THE Fuengirola neighbourhood of El Boquetillo will welcome spring on Saturday April 13 with a big fiesta. The Benito Pérez Galdós street area will be the setting for this celebration from 2pm and the event includes free paella tasting and drinks, as well as musical performances.

“With the arrival of spring every year we organise a great dynamic, fun and above all, a meeting point for the people who live in the neighbourhood, those who once lived there and are returning for this celebration and also for all the people from Fuengirola”, said coun-

A REPRESENTATION of the Manilva Town Council (Mayor José Manuel Fernández and councillors Fina Gómez, Juan Carlos Morejón, Noelia Muñoz and Dean Shelton) lent their support for the opening of the exhibition of the local artist María José Gil in Gibraltar.

The event took place at the Xapo Bank Gallery, located in the central Casemates Square of the Rock.

cillor for Festivities, Isabel Moreno.

In addition, the councillor said that, “in this way we will celebrate the arrival of spring, which is the season of light and colour and is the ideal time to celebrate a day of neighbourly coexistence with all the residents of the neighbourhood and with all those who wish to come along.”

To conclude, Isabel Moreno has encouraged all residents of the area to attend this party, “to enjoy with family and friends the various activities, as well as the paella and refreshments that we can all try.”

With this support, the town hall has helped promote the work of the mural artist from Manilva in this international leap in her artistic production.

Fernández said that, “we always accompany our artists and neighbours in the events and projects they undertake. For us it is a source of pride and a way to expand and promote the name of Manilva everywhere. The talent of our people is infinite.”

The exhibition will be open for one month in this internationally renowned gallery.

Kevin Fraser Park

Photo: Fuengirola Town Hall

Photo: Wikimedia CC

Photo: Candlelight by Feverup

Photo: Manilva Town Hall

MALAGA Provincial Council, through its promotional brand ‘Sabor a Malaga’, will host a new edition of the Spanish Good Bread Route, a competition which highlights the qualities of artisan bread and which will be used to select the 50 best master bakers in the country.

This Panatics project was born in 2012 to find and promote the best artisan bakers in Spain. It began with local routes in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid, and in 2018 the First Spanish Good Bread Route took place. Since 2018, several bakeries from Malaga have stood out in the competition, and in 2022 La Térmica hosted the award ceremony of the Golden Crumb of Andalucia, the final

Good Bread Route National Ballet of Cuba

of the Andalucian phase of the Spanish Route of Good Bread.

For 2024, the competition has a new format and will hold four major meetings that will serve to select the best master bakers at national level. Thus, the bakeries from the southern part of the country will compete on Wednesday May 8 at La Térmica, where the tasting and the jury’s decision will take place.

During the tasting, the jury will evaluate the breads submitted to the competition for their shape and appearance, crumb and crust, weight, aroma, flavour and structure.

The bakeries with the highest scores will be visited anonymously to assess the presentation of the product in the shop and the customer service, and those finally selected will travel to Madrid to receive the award certifying them as the 50 best artisan bread bakeries in Spain.

Michael Carrington

GISELLE comes to Estepona at the Teatro Auditorio Felipe VI on Friday April 19 at 8pm.

The plot of the ballet revolves around the story of Giselle, a beautiful, innocent peasant girl whose greatest desire is to dance, but because she has a weak heart, her mother stops her for fear that she will die before she marries. It is a romantic tale of innocent love and betrayal; of philandering Count Albrecht and a trusting peasant maid, Giselle.

Within the repertoire of the National Ballet of Cuba, Giselle has a significant importance, not only in terms of its own history, but also because with this work and with Alicia Alonso, its exceptional performer, Cuba, for the first time, takes part in the international field of dance.

Prima Ballerina Assoluta Choreographer and teacher, founder and director of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Alicia Alonso is an important figure in the history of stage dance, a leading

figure in classical ballet at the international level and a distinguished personality in Cuban national culture.

Alicia Alonso’s choreographic version and personal interpretation of the ballet Giselle received the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris in 1966, and in 1972, the same version was incorporated into the Paris Opera.

And now the National Ballet of Cuba is bringing it to Estepona. Tickets are available from the theatre website: ta festepona.com.

Photo: Facebook / National Ballet of Cuba

Photo: Flickr CC / City Foodsters

Spring in Bioparc

WITH the arrival of spring, the most exciting time in nature’s calendar, winter comes to an end and all the wildlife begins to awaken from its long slumber and Bioparc Fuengirola is offering its visitors a wide range of free activities for the months of April and May.

On April 27, the team will travel to the Parque de las Presas de Fuengirola. This natural area of the town will host this family activity to learn about the fascinating world of insects and participate in creating safe and cosy shelters for these little creatures.

The spring programme continues on May 11 and 12 with guided tours in order to get to know the park and the magic of its route in depth, observing and learning about dozens of species. At the end of the month, on May 25 and 26, there will be ‘The Magic of Biodiversity’, a fun workshop in which you can discover the secrets of the different habitats of the planet.

Activities that take place inside Bioparc are free of charge and included in the daily entrance fee, except for the camps which have an additional cost.

Moving more

WE all know moving more is good for us. But knowing the level of activity that’s right for you, especially if you’ve just had a fall, an operation, or are living with a long-term health condition, can be difficult. Being more active isn’t about working up a sweat. It’s just about moving more each day in whatever way works for you.

Age Concern Fuengirola Mijas & Benalmadena organise chair-based Seated Vitality at St Andrews Church on Wednesdays from 2pm to 3pm with Ruth Massey, a qualified physiotherapist.

Seated Vitality is an excellent form of physical activity for anyone who has difficulties in exercising whilst standing. It can be adapted and enjoyed to suit the needs of your specific requirements. It will help you to improve your

posture, mobility, flexibility, balance and build strength.

There is also a Pilates class at the same venue, again on Wednesdays from 3pm to 4pm with qualified instructor Karen Holmquist. Pilates is an excellent way to reduce your risk of falling. Its slow, measured movements, strengthening poses and focused breathing help you improve your balance, flexibility, stability and strength as well as giving you a sense of well-being and enhanced quality of life.

Regular physical activity in later life is important for so many reasons, not only will your health improve, but you’ll also meet new people. Join one of the exercise sessions, they are free of charge for All Age Concern Clients and Volunteers. Contact your local drop in club or call Michelle on +34 619 792 738 to reserve your place.

Harley Davidson weekend

BENALMADENA’S Recinto Ferial del Parque de La Paloma will welcome a rally organised by the Harley Davidson Club Andalucia that will take place from Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14. The event will also include a motorbike tourism route, scheduled for Saturday April 13, and live concerts on each day.

Lady Punk, BenalRock, Reverend Seven, Daniel Song, Solzimer, Stereo 80, Mystery Machine and Rock Paradise, feature in this musical line-up with competitions and all kinds of fun to stay in the heart of Arroyo de la Miel and enjoy the exciting world of two wheels and everything that surrounds

it. “Those who attend this event will not only enjoy live music, food and good atmosphere, but also the exhibitions of Harley Davidson motorbikes that will be at the fairgrounds, as well as other vehicles to have a good time with family and friends throughout the weekend”, said the Benalmadena councillor for Commerce, Raúl Campos.

“I invite residents and visitors to make time in their agenda to enjoy the good atmosphere that Harley Davidson will bring to the city this weekend,” said the president of the Harley Davidson Club Andalucía, Juanjo Pérez.

Brian Bamford

Photo: Age Concern

Photo Bioparc

Photo: Facebook / HDC

Geek Pride

THE Palacio de Congresos in Torremolinos will host an event that will take place on Saturday May 25 and Sunday May 26 and which last year brought together more than 45,000 people.

It’s the eighth edition of FreakCon, the largest geek culture festival in Spain. The event will take place in more than 70,000 square metres of exhibition space that will bring together the entire geek community during the weekend of ‘Orgullo Friki’ or ‘Geek Pride’: an initiative to promote geek culture, celebrated annually on May 25 which originated in Spain in 2006 and has now spread around the world.

The change of venue, previously held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos

de Malaga, will allow the organisers, Kaiju Group, to expand the repertoire of activities by using outdoor spaces where the different performances, food trucks, experiences, concerts and competitions will form part of the 2024 programme.

The essence of FreakCon remains intact: Cosplay, Kpop, presentations, meet and greet, artist’s alley, screenings, workshops, parades, exhibitions, video games and everything that makes this event unique will be present.

The 2024 edition has the support of Torremolinos Council, OXO Museo del Videojuego Malaga, Costa del Sol and Diputación de Malaga, as well as the backing of other collaborators.

Tickets are on sale for €10 each day or €18 for the whole festival on the organisation’s website www.freakcon.es.

Coin Spring Fair

IN the cloister of the Convent of Santa María, Mayor Francisco Santos presented the programme for the Coin Spring Fiestas 2024, which will take place from May 1 to 5.

More than 15 live artists, three large marquees and an extensive programme make up the line-up for the Coin Spring Fiestas 2024. Francisco Santos said, “I encourage all our neighbours and visitors to take advantage of these days to enjoy the extensive programme, there is no shortage of fun for our young and not so young people.”

The Fair will run from May 1 and includes the traditional Day of the Cross, which takes place on May 3. Also, on Sunday May 5, the Fiesta de la Naranja (Orange Festival) will take place, which joins the programme of the fair together with the Horticultural Competition, both of which will be held in the Guadalhorce Agri-food Market.

“Coin is the real larder of Malaga for the high quality of our farm products and they will always have a place in our fair because it is the best showcase of support for our farmers,” said the mayor.

The fair will begin its programme on Wednesday May 1 with a live flamenco performance at midday and in the afternoon there will be an ascent to the hermitage of the Patron Saint of Coin.

Photo: Facebook / Coin Town Hall

Photo: Malaga Provincial Council

Flamenco fashion Coin culture

ON Sunday May 5 at 6pm at the Peña Flamenca ‘Los Amigos del Arte’ in Torremolinos, the flamenco fashion show ‘Abanico de colores’ will take place featuring fabulous clothes and costumes by Modas Florido.

Admission is free and after the fashion show there will be a magnificent raffle of gifts donated by different businesses with all proceeds going to the Association of Relatives of Alzheimer’s patients and other dementias of Benalmadena and Torremolinos (AFAB), to continue offering help and support to both patients and relatives.

Alzheimer’s and other dementias are illnesses that not only affect the person who suffers from them, but also their family members, mainly the main carers. At AFAB they offer family members all the support they need, from emotional to legal. Welcoming and supporting those people who, after diagnosis, need advice and help.

The venue, Los Amigos del Arte, is a place where gastronomy and art combine to offer a unique experience in Torremolinos.

A club by and for those who know how to enjoy themselves. The best gastronomy, concerts and shows on the Costa del Sol.

COIN has a full cultural programme for 2024. In a presentation, the town council presented the dates of the upcoming events. “Every year we have a varied and intense programme of acts, activities and events of all kinds that we wanted to bring together in this presentation so that both residents and visitors already have the main dates to mark in their the calendars,” said councillor for Festivities, Juan Antonio Bernal.

The calendar begins with the start of the Spring Fiestas, which is the Feria de Mayo de Coin, which this year will take place from May 1 to 5.

“This will be one of the most important weeks of the year for our municipality because we celebrate the fair, the ascent to the hermitage of our patron

saint, the Virgen de la Fuensanta, the Day of the Cross and the Fiesta de la Naranja,” explained Bernal.

One of the new events for 2024 is Noches con Encanto, which will be held in the auditorium of the Parque Leonor Princesa de Asturias on the weekends of June 28 and 29 and July 4,

5 and 6. “These are concerts and shows for all audiences, entertaining and fun for the whole family to enjoy in an idyllic setting of our Princess of Asturias Park at night,” said Bernal.

Another major event, the Feria de Agosto, will take place between August 8 and 15,

including as always, the fair, a procession through the streets of Coin, as well as two of the most important traditional events of the municipality: the Hortofrutícola Competition and the Auction for the best batch of Huevo de Toro Tomatoes, both on August 15.

IRELAND

Richest Irish

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

Lost weekend

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

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

NORWAY

Threat defused

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

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

Golden eggs

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

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

EURO PRESS

Strait talking

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

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

SWEDEN

Bike it

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

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

April snow

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

PORTUGAL BELGIUM

Mystery cargo

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

Worth its salt

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

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

DENMARK GERMANY

Jet sale

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

Long journey

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

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

NETHERLANDS ITALY

Stoked up

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

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

Trunk call

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

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

FRANCE

Orca loss

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

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

Ethical chocs

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

FINLAND

Sky-high

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

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

No change

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

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

Steady rises

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

In bloom

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

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

Go easy

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

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

Call-up

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

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

Photo credit: CC/Oursane

Say NO to Nolotil

MARBELLA MOMENTS

BY NICOLE KING

I THINK it was back in 2018 that I met Graeme Ward and first heard about the potentially lethal side effects of the Spanish pain relief medication Nolotil. Tragically, Graeme’s wife was prescribed this method of pain relief and it took her life.

I was prescribed this after my first Caesarean and on many other occasions since having lived in Spain, without knowing the risks. Who’d of thought that the use of the most widely prescribed pain re lief medication in the country could be banned in over 40 other countries and be immersed in such controversy regarding its safety?

for this not to be prescribed to Brits and tourists due to higher complications and deaths being documented in ‘fair skinned’ citizens.

One of the major side effects of Nolotil is agranulocytosis, basically resulting in the lack of production of enough white blood cells, which can lead to blood poisoning.

Just recently and thanks to the official complaint by the Association for Patients’ rights, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Audiencia Nacional has undertaken to investigate the possible liabilities for prescribing Nolotil and the differences and reasons why it continues to be marketed in Spain but not others.

Spain’s healthcare regulator the Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) warned of the dangers in a report in 2018, particularly indicating

If have you any personal experiences related to Nolotil, please report them to local health authorities and if someone is in hospital and even though the operation went well they’re ailing, check to see if they’re on Nolotil! Similarly, if you’re prescribed Nolotil, please just say NO and explain why!

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

Killing the Bear

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

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

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

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

As there were still a number of people alive who

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

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

ters (Los Zarramaco) and many more.

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

THIS year, Barona is looking for 100 new employees for its service centres in Fuengirola and soon to be opened in Mijas. Fuengirola Service Centre currently employs more than 350 customer service professionals.

Barona, which has operated in the town since 2008, is the largest employer in Fuengirola after Fuengirola town. Barona offers outsourced customer service, IT support, treatment needs assessment and sales support to numerous companies from the Service Centre in Spain.

The increase in remote work due to the coronavirus pandemic and the willingness to change careers have turned the eyes of more and more Finns abroad, for example to Fuengirola and other Scandinavians also.

According to Marianne Eliasson, Barona’s Head of Service Centre Spain, the aim is to recruit employees who can work on a permanent basis and commit to a more perma-

nent move to Spain. Similarly, applicants are offered an easy way to go abroad to work, because the job is already waiting in Spain.

“We do not have an ideal applicant, anyone can be the right person to complement our community. We want the best colleagues to work for us. We also hope that the applicant will be interested in working in customer service and digital tools,” Eliasson says.

The town of Fuengirola is very multicultural and it is easy to assimilate into the Finnish community.

According to Eliasson, Barona has some turnover, but there are also many who stay in Fuengirola permanently.

“At Barona, we take care of the well-being of our employees in many ways and actively monitor the feedback we receive from them. We offer advice on moving and adapting here, and we also spend time outside working hours. No one is left alone.”

Barona organises a wide range of fun activities for its employees, such as city trips, visits to olive gro-

hiking and learning about different sports. Employees also praise the daily breakfast served at the office.

According to Eliasson, Barona’s goal is to continue to grow in Fuengirola and recruit more experts from both the Nordic countries and other European countries in the future.

“Distances are decreasing as technology develops. We believe that employees appreciate the opportunity to work flexibly in a work community that values diversity,” says Eliasson.

Some of the 80 different characters. Credit: Vijanera Facebook

The Bear captured by the Zarramacos. Credit: Vijanera Facebook

Gets better every day

MIKE SENKER

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

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

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

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

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

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

Email: mikesenker@gmail.com

A Brush with history

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

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

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

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

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

INTERVIEW

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

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

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

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

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

Spain is now home

VIEWING it as an opportunity for an international experience and career advancement, she embraced the move. However, upon arri ving in Spain, she quickly found herself falling in love with the country and its lifestyle. Twenty-five years later, Simone remains happily settled in Spain, with no intentions of returning to Ger many.

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

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

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

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

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

Simone Elster.

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

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

VIEWS OF A GRUMPY OLD MAN

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

Eco chic nails

ACHIEVING strong, resilient nails doesn’t always require harsh chemicals or artificial treatments. Embracing organic methods can promote nail health while minimising exposure to potentially harmful ingredients.

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

Externally, opt for organic oils like olive oil or coconut oil to moisturise and condition your nails and cuticles. Redoing household chores and avoiding harsh chemicals. By prioritising natural nail

Effortless style

AS we usher in spring, the modern pompadour emerges as the hairstyle of choice for fashion-forward men. This contemporary twist on a classic look combines sleek sophistication with effortless style, making it a versatile option for any occasion.

Characterised by its voluminous top and neatly tapered sides, the modern pompadour offers a fresh take on traditional barbering techniques. With its ability to be tailored to suit individual preferences, from subtle to bold variations, this hairstyle is versatile enough to complement any face shape or hair texture.

achieve strong, beautiful nails without compromising your health or the environment.

Whether styled with a matte finish for a casual daytime look or slicked back for a more polished appearance, the modern pompadour adds an element of refinement and confidence to any ensemble. Embrace this timeless trend and elevate your spring style with the modern pompadour.

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

From fiery scarlet to rich burgundy, red exudes confidence

Red reigns

and sophistication, injecting energy into wardrobes weary of pastel overload. Embrace this daring hue in your spring attire, whether through a statement coat, a bold lip, or striking ac-

cessories.

As we bid farewell to the pink craze of yesteryear, let red reign supreme, infusing our wardrobes with renewed vitality and flair for the season ahead.

Healthy hair oils

HAIR OILING , a practice rooted in ancient traditions, has experienced a resurgence in modern hair care routines for its myriad benefits to the scalp. Regular application of hair oil can work wonders for maintaining scalp health and promoting strong, luscious locks. One of the primary benefits of hair oiling is its ability to moisturise and nourish the scalp, preventing dryness and flakiness while improving overall hydration. Additionally, massaging oil into the scalp stimulates blood circulation, promoting hair growth and redu-

Ear, nose & throat

OUR Otorhinolaryngology specialist is an expert in treating diseases that affect the ear, nose, and throat. Our team of doctors will be deligh ted to provide you with information so that you can make an informed decision about your health.

Avenida de España 20, Local 5, Sitio de Calahonda, Malaga. +34 952 933 377

cing hair fall. Certain oils, such as coconut, rosemary and argan oil, are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that nourish the hair follicles and strengthen the hair shaft, resulting in smoother, shinier hair. Moreover, the ritual of hair oiling can provide a calming, therapeutic experience, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.

Incorporating regular hair oiling into your hair care routine can lead to healthier, more vibrant hair and scalp, enhancing your overall well-being.

Skincare streamlined

IN a world inundated with skincare products promising miraculous results, a minimalist approach is gaining popularity for its simplicity and effectiveness. Embracing a minimalistic skincare routine means stripping away excess products and focusing on the essentials that deliver tangible benefits.

Start with a gentle cleanser to remove impurities without stripping the skin’s natural oils, followed by a hydrating moisturiser to maintain skin’s moisture balance. Incorporate a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays, a non-negotiable

step for healthy skin.

Simplify further by choosing multi-tasking products like serums that address specific concerns such as hydration or anti-ageing. By paring down your skincare regimen

to the essentials, you can achieve radiant, healthy-looking skin without the overwhelm of excessive products. Less truly is more when it comes to skincare.

Exposure danger

FUENGIROLA Town Hall is promoting healthy habits in terms of sun protection among residents and visitors within the ‘Soludable’ project.

Fuengirola aspires to be the first municipality in Europe to obtain the ‘Healthy City’ label, which recognises institutions that promote policies and good practices for sun exposure.

“Fuengirola Town Hall has been working for some time in collaboration with the Costa del Sol Health Agency on the ‘Soludable’ project, with which we aim to protect against the negative effects of the sun and the damage that ultraviolet rays can cause to our skin, our eyes and, in general, our health,” explained Councillor María Hernandez.

Fuengirola Town Hall has been working for years to achieve the ‘Soludable’ badge, “and we have started an aware-

ness campaign aimed at residents and visitors, with the aim of being the first municipality in Europe to achieve it,” said Hernandez.

The awareness campaign is being developed through leaflets and municipal social networks, as well as on the information panels distributed along the Paseo Marítimo, where recommendations are offered to help prevent the negative effects of the sun.

Check UV radiation levels daily; apply sun cream every two hours; avoid the midday sun; hydrate yourself inside and out; seek shade; eat food rich in antioxidants, such as fruit and vegetables; wear loose clothing that covers at least your shoulders and arms; check moles after the summer; use sunglasses with UV filters or know your skin phototype, are some of the tips offered as part of this campaign.

Better contracts for workers

THE president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, has presented a new campaign to contest Spain’s National Health System deficit.

Mazon approved a new work contract for between one and three years of work for practitioners who have finished their MIR (Resident Internal Physician) exams and licensing.

With this incentive, the president aims to improve the state of medical care across the Valencian Community: “We provide stability and we encourage doctors to want to stay in the Valencian community.”

He urges the support of the central government, questioning the accreditation criteria for Specialised Health Training placements, which he believes “has us absolutely suffocated.”

Despite Mazon’s efforts, he expresses his concern for the future if the government doesn’t support his combat: “There will come a time when the demand is going to be much more necessary than what is now.”

Mental health

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

In December, a joint research effort revealed the efficacy of paliperi-

done, a second-generation antipsychotic, in a ground-breaking study. Participants included Juan Antonio Garcia-Car-

mona, a neurologist at Santa Lucia Hospital in Cartagena, and Pilar Campos Navarro, a psychiatrist at the same faci-

Brushing brilliance

SELECTING the right hair brush is essential for maintaining healthy locks and achieving desired styling results.

For fine or thin hair, a soft-bristled brush or a boar bristle brush can gently detangle without causing breakage.

Thicker or curly hair benefits from a wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush with flexible bristles to minimise frizz and evenly distribu-

te natural oils. For straight or wavy hair, a round brush with nylon or ceramic bristles provides volume and smoothness during blow-drying.

Ultimately, the best hair brush varies based on individual hair type and styling preferences. Experimenting with different brushes can help you discover the perfect tool to keep your locks looking luscious and well-groomed.

lity, alongside teams from various medical centres including the Imperial College of London.

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

This novel approach was preferred by 43 per cent of the participants for its minimal administration frequency, according to Garcia-Carmona and Campos Navarro. ‘43 per cent of patients indicated their preference for

treatment with fewer administrations as the main reason for switching to semi-annual paliperidone’.

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

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

The research, detailed

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

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

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

Shutterstock/ Davizro Photography

Credit: SmartPhotoLab/Shutterstock.com

A revolutionary way to deal with hair loss

ACCORDING to Raquel Welch, ‘When a women feels good about her hair, she radiates beauty and confidence’.

There is no doubt that hair plays an important part in most people’s lives but with an increase in alopecia and loss of hair due to chemotherapy more and more women are looking for solutions other than traditional wigs.

Anita McMillan the proprietor of The House Hair and Beauty in Calahonda believes that she is able to offer the ideal option which is practicable and affordable.

With more than 20 years of experience as a professional hair stylist, she has now undertaken full training to allow her to offer the IntelliMESH integration systems which are adaptable to cater to every individual’s unique requirements.

IntelliMESH Integration is an ideal hair replacement solution for women experiencing hair loss for various reasons, such as female pattern baldness, alopecia, stress-related illness, and more.

This semi-permanent system is tailored to each individual’s needs and can be worn continuously for a 12-week period, giving clients an instant and secure result without any tension applied to the natural hair or scalp.

By incorporating various hair extension techniques like lightweight wefts and Itips, she can tailor these systems to address diverse hair loss concerns.

The IntelliMESH Integration systems allow for natural hair growth and can be placed in specific areas as needed and is perfect for women who still have some natural hair growth and want to maintain a sense of self while going about their daily activities such as working, shopping, and even sporting activities like swimming and holidays.

Growth plans cater to women experiencing temporary

hair loss, like chemothe- rapy-induced hair loss, who may require IntelliMESH for 12 months before transitioning to conventional hair extensions.

The systems are fully breathable, promoting natural hair growth underneath the mesh. Regular maintenance and proper aftercare are crucial for optimal results.

It is a non-invasive procedure involving placing a thin mesh around the scalp to help protect the biological hair. The mesh is placed on the scalp using a locking technique designed to be comfortable and discreet.

The mesh is a critical component of a mesh integration system because it provides a physical barrier between the scalp and the hair closure and extensions.

It helps to protect the scalp and hair from over washing or damage from conditions such as trichotillomania, as well as allowing the hair to rest and recover from chemotherapy and other medical hair loss conditions.

Additionally, it helps to provide a more even weight distribution and protects the biological hair when applying the IntelliMESH integrated system.

The mesh also allows the natural hair to grow underneath it while keeping the extensions in place.

The focus of IntelliMESH is creating a natural-feeling hair system that is both comfortable to wear and virtually undetectable. So if you’re looking for a hair system that looks and feels like your natural hair, look no further than IntelliMESH and contact Anita for a consultation.

Before and after application of IntelliMESH

Costa Blanca South Shipmates’ support

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

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

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

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

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

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

Axarquia

Nerja uncovered

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

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

Mallorca

34 evacuated in Soller

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

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

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

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

The Guardia Civil’s official investigation is still open.

Costa Blanca North The Ghost Pipers

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

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

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

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

Almeria Saving lives

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

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

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

Costa Calida Skydive success

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

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

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

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

PETS

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NEW research suggests that dogs are not only clever enough to follow simple commands like “sit” and “stay”, but they can also understand words related to their favourite toys, such as “fetch the ball”.

A study conducted in Hungary discovered that dogs could learn to link words with specific objects,

Dog talk

a skill called referential understanding. This means that when dogs hear the name of an object, they can conjure up a mental image of it in their minds. This suggests a deeper level of language comprehension than previously thought possible for dogs, similar to how humans understand language.

The research, which was published in the science journal ‘Current Biology’ and involved 18 dogs, used a non-invasive EEG procedure to measure brain activity. Dog owners played audio clips saying the names of their dog’s toys, then showed the corresponding objects. The study found that dogs reacted differently in their brain patterns when the object matched the word compared to when it didn’t, indicating an understanding of the words.

While some experts praised the study, others remain sceptical. Professor Clive Wynne from Arizona State University believes the study only demonstrates dogs’ ability to respond to stimuli, rather than truly understanding the meaning of specific words.

CLASSIFIEDS

AIR CONDITIONING

AIR CONDITIONING by Cool and Cosy. The family company that cares. Installation and repairs. Quality machines. Ecosense movement sensors supplied and fitted from 100 Euros. For other energy-saving products visit www. coolandcosy.es. 952 935 513. We are Junta de Andalucia authorised installers as the new law states (real decreto 115/2017). On the Costa del Sol since 1993 (303640)

Quality Air Conditioning Installations.  Economical heating, & silent in operation. 28 Years installation history in Spain.  EnviroCare. All Areas

Covered.   952 663 141/670 409 759  info@envirocarespain. com www.envirocarespain.com (305304)

MR COOL – Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating Systems, Sales & Service – Call Christian +34 629 527 587 or Nick +34 618 678 853 – www.mrcool.es (305074)

AIR-CONDITIONING installations. Service & Repair to any make or model, commercial air conditioning, as well as Bar bottle coolers. Suppliers of catering equipment. All work guaranteed. All areas covered including campo. Contact Williams Refrigeration 952 596 404 / 679 284 959. (305317)

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICING

28 Years Servicing & Installing in Spain.  EnviroCare. All Areas

Covered.   952 663 141/670 409 759  info@envirocarespain. com www.envirocarespain.com

AWNINGS

ACE OF SHADES – All colours available. Urbanisations catered for, electric and manual operation; also recovery service available, largest selection of colours and designs on the coast. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@ aceofshades.design T1(101730)

SUNSHINE AWNINGS/BLINDS

Awnings, Persiana, Shutter & Rejas Specialist. New & Repairs. 25yrs on the coast. 680 323 969 / 952 199 640 (304742)

BLINDS

ACE OF SHADES - Vertical, Venetian, Roman, Roller, Wooden blinds, various colours available, also black-out blinds. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@ aceofshades.design (101730)

BLINDS, awnings, mosquito screens, curtains, vast choice. All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (303730)

MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www. mosquitonick.ws (304439)

Solar Blinds

SOLAR BLINDS

ES Ideal for large glazed areas to reflect heat / glare and stop furniture fading and still keep the view. SAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER to improve your living environment. ian@ solarshadetinting.com Tel Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (303296)

BUILDERS

BUILDING SERVICES

JIM’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS. Bathrooms/kitchen reforms, repairs, plumbing, carpentry, painting, tiling, maintenance. Give us a call no job too small. 692 207 799 / 645 559 423 (305682)

GENERAL BUILDER, Tiling, plastering, painting, electrician, plumber, carpentry. Reasonable prices. 635 913 885 (References available) (304615)

SWINGLES CASAS SL. For all your building needs. Visit www. swinglescasas.com for more details or call 635 999 765 / 666 960 262

PLUMBING & GENERAL BUILDING All your plumbing needs. Bathroom, kitchens, tiling & painting. Benalmadena based, travel no problem. Glen 669 073 773 or Paul 642 098 115 (304246)

QUALITY renovation: Kitchens, bathrooms, tiling, windows, doors, plastering, Total property renovations  info@ masterbuildspain.com 952663141 /670409759 Over 28 years renovating history in Spain (302479)

METALWORK

NEW REJAS, GATES, Carports & Fencing, repairs & alterations. Work Guaranteed. Reliable. 19yrs on Coast. Steve the Welder. Call/ WhatsApp 655 040 648 (305688)

BUY & SELL

HOUSE CLEARANCE SPECIALISTS, FULL OR PART CLEARANCE. ALL FURNITURE WANTED, WE PAY MORE. TEL 634 324 914 OR EMAIL houseclearanceman@hotmail. com (305116)

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

ALHAURIN FURNITURE

EMPORIUM Buyers & Sellers of quality furniture. Top prices paid. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (304243)

BUILDERS

If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

CAR HIRE

ALH RENT A CAR – SHORT & LONG-TERM RENTALS FROM €15 A DAY. INSURANCE INCLUDED IN OUR PRICES. - TLF: 638 846 909 or reservasalhrentacar@gmail. com (303303)

CHARITY

COLLECTIVE CALLING are urgently requesting donations of clothing, homeware & furniture, so if you are having a House Clearance, Please call us for FREE COLLECTION. We sell good quality items, which then supports low-income families and the homeless in the community. These items can be dropped directly to our charity shop Tienda Solidaria: Av. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 4, San Pedro de Alcantara, alternatively, call us to arrange collection on +34 711 006 961 (295137)

CHIMNEY SERVICES

CHIMNEY SWEEP. Clean reliable professional 608 377 497 (303436)

APEX CHIMNEY SERVICES, professional chimney sweeping and smoke testing. NACS

Qualified. Clean and efficient Tel: Bob 696 320 202 (304443)

CHURCH SERVICES

BENALMADENA Elim Family Fellowship. Elimfamilyfellowship. com or call 951 912 525 or 952 446 627. (10011)

LA CALA – Encounter Church (Elim). Family friendly church with kids activities. 11 am Sundays at the Cazbah Live Lounge, Av de Jerez, La Cala 29649. Rev Dave Hodgson 695 115 496 (10012)

THE Ark Christian Church. We meet at The Ark Christian School, Calle Río Darro 2 y Plaza Juncal, 29651, Mijas Costa (the road behind the Mijas Aquapark) on Sundays at 11.00am. Pastor, Andrew Seale Tlf 682 713 491 www.thearkspain. com (293850)

CLEANING/MAINTENANCE

ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet, upholstery cleaning, 27 years experience, wet/dry clean.  Honest, reliable service 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 or email  acservs@outlook. com (290189)

UPHOLSTERY including leather cleaned also carpets. 685 524 921 (290189)

STARLIGHT Property Cleaning & Maintenance. All types of cleaning. Any size of property. All

Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. 682 636451 www.starlight-spain. com (304520)

DECORATORS

RAINBOW PINTURAS. Spray painting, professional finish of kitchens, doors and furniture. All aspects of interior/ exterior paint and decorating under taken. Call/ Whatsapp: 628066308 www. rainbowpinturas.com. Facebook. Instagram: rainbowpinturasmalaga (303387)

DOMESTIC APP REP

DOMESTIC appliance repairs washing machines fridges cookers ovens water heaters gas electric professionally repaired 608 337 497 (303436)

DRAINAGE

BLOCKED DRAINS? Leak detection, CCTV survey, root removal, Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com (296441)

ELECTRICIAN

ALL TYPES OF ELECTRICAL work, re-wiring, fault finding. Certified, Reliable & Guarantee. Frank Tel or Whatsapp 650 561 629 (305657)

FLOOR POLISHING

MARBLE FLOOR (2.50€/m2) WHY PAY MORE. WE CLEAN, CRYSTALLISE, SEAL THEN POLISH YOUR MARBLE TO HIGH GLOSS, NON-SLIP. PROFESSIONAL GUARANTEED, FAST SERVICE. 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. ALSO REPAIRS DAMAGES TO MARBLE, CLEAN AND SEAL TERRACOTTA TERRACES, COVERS ALL COSTA DEL SOL. TEL: 671 244 683 (305397)

MARBLE FLOORS polished high shine non-slip. Fast Service Reliable, family-run business. TERRACOTTA CLEANED and sealed. No job too small. Cleansol 10am – 10pm 7 days all areas. 952 930 861 / 607 610 578

Discount code: EWN 1 CLEAN (206437)

MARBLE POLISHING, CRYSTALLISING, LASTING, HIGH SHINE. REGRINDING, RESTORATION OF SALTY, DEAD FLOORS. 27YRS EXPERIENCE. RELIABLE. REFS AVAILABLE. CYRIL. 645 840 199 (305107)

FOR SALE/WANTED

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

FURNITURE

FURNITURE wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (304243)

GARDENING

IRRIGATION

IRIS-IRRIGATION and landscapes. TRENCHLESS NO DIG Irrigation installation, Cables, Fibre Optic, Electric & Lighting Cables. New Installations & problem-solving. Turf (supply and laying). Garden constructions. Tree surgeon. Clearing. Astro Turf (Free Quotation) 676 747 521 (303376)

GATE REPAIRS

ELECTRIC GATE/GARAGE DOOR automation repaired. Free, no obligation quotation. Call Colin636 394 641 (304223)

GATES

ELECTRIC GATES/Garage Doors. Intercoms/access control systems and replacement remotes. New installs and repairs. For all your electric gate and garage door requirements call us on 605 356 469/952 786 178. The Garage Door Co & 2 Way Gates. tgdc@ hotmail.co.uk www.2waygates. com (302680)

GLASS CURTAINS

GLASS CURTAIN repairs, specialist in replacement of discoloured plastic strips that act as a seal between the glass panels. Call Julian 655 825 931 (303730)

HANDYMAN

HANDYMAN: General Building work, painting, wall/roof waterproofing & other jobs. Call Michael 622 755 666 (305760)

HEATING

Fires:  Electric, Gas.  Quality guaranteed.  EnviroCare.  All areas covered.  952 663 141 / 670 409759.  info@envirocarespain. com www.envirocarespain.com (305304)

CHARITY

HOME IMPROVEMENTS VINYL WRAP

VINYL SOLUTIONS WHY REPLACE WHEN YOU CAN RENOVATE? Modern adhesive vinyl coverings in hundreds of styles and designs can renovate a tired kitchen, bathroom, wall panels, bedroom wardrobes, fridge doors. Turn a tired looking wood designed kitchen into a modern solid colour or metallic look without painting or replacing. Work carried out on site with 10 year warranties Contact Ian 644 546 176 for design brochure and samples. (303296)

HOT TUBS AND SPAS

HOT TUBS new used, bought, sold, hired. Also move & repairs. Used good Hot Tubs for sale. 691 973 131 / +44 7836 379122 (304541)

HOUSE CLEARANCES

ALHAURIN FURNITURE

EMPORIUM furniture wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (304243)

INSURANCE

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

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com (291234)

LOCKSMITHS

ENGLISH LOCKSMITHS,

SECURITY & SHADE EXPERTS. FREE HOME SECURITY SURVEY. 636 770 865 / 952 660 233

WWW.SECURITYOFSPAIN.COM

CONTACT DAREN (303056) T1

ENGLISH LOCKSMITH emergency & appointment, locks changed, patio doors & windows secured.

All locks supplied insurance approved. Fast & reliable service. No hidden extras or nasty surprises. 657 466 803 www. mrlocksmith.es (305380)

MASSAGE

RELAXING Massage for Men & Couples. Feel free from tension & stress Call Dany 603 202 758 (305703)

SAN PEDRO. Sandra. Professional relaxing, tantric massage. Young, slim, work alone, unforgettable moments. Nueva Andalucia. 641 346 278

PURE RELAXATION in Nueva Andalucia with attractive independent masseuse. Tantric and other special massages in private apartment. For gentlemen and couples, with no rush attention to your needs 656 350 401

ENGLISH ELEGANT independent & affectionate lady in late 40s, gives a sensual golfers massage to relieve tension in her discreet private apartment. Satisfaction guaranteed. Call 680 177 569 (305079)

MARBELLA CENTRE - the ideal place for relaxing massage in the city centre. Available 24h and prices from €50. For reservations and information call 620 366 817. (302600)

PROFESSIONAL MALE muscled masseur. Full-body relaxing, deep tissue and therapeutic massage. In/outcalls. WhatsApp me 607 595 906 (304067)

BENALMADENA lovely lady, offering you a very relaxing body massage. Call for an appointment 634 209 427 (305684)

FUENGIROLA. Japanese Shiatsu & Zen Ki relaxing and therapeutic massage. Excellent service guaranteed. Home Visits. WhatsApp for appointment 693 988 340 (305599)

AT MY Wellness Massage Studio your first visit will be the first of many. Tel: +34 623 492 262 (304620)

JAPANESE massage. Marbella. Relaxing, less stress. 664 177 216 (MI 559)

INSURANCE

MARBELLA Tantric ritual massage with aromatherapy to leave completely renewed. 642 751 070 (2907)

NEW FUENGIROLA. Beautiful mulatta 19 years old beautiful massage and relax. 672 055 839 (FU 3232)

SARA Venezuelan, professional relaxing therapeutic & sensitive massage. I can visit you. For more information contact me 632 770 051 (303021)

NEW FUENGIROLA. Ana Moroccan 22 years old massage and relax 672 055 839 (FU 3232)

FILIPINA/Thai, exclusive prostatic, deep, hard, soft massage pleasure to body mind therapy, exotic proffessional relaxation, clean, good atmosphere. Elviria. Marbella. 604 457 672 (MI 582)

NEW IN FUENGIROLA. two friends 20 and 21 years old, Balinese massages and relax. 672 055 839 (FU 3232)

BOLICHES: Celina Https:// celina-16.jimdosite.com. Elegant loving kind lovely delightful lady for educated very discreet, respectable gentleman. Unique relaxing moments, hot sensual massages, private quite place. Enjoy full deep complete, excellent treatment, special attention of your needs and total satisfaction. Demanding impeccable hygiene. Previous appointment 11am/6pm. 622 210 797 (FU 3226)

ASIAN lady tantric sensory generate self esteem body technique, fantastic relaxation massage Marbella. 671 442 664 (MI 582)

NEW FUENGIROLA. Beautiful Catalina, 19 years. Massages and relax. 672 055 839 (FU 3232)

VANESSA Benalmadena excellent massage services. Relaxing & therapeutic. Home premises. Call me 624 811 098 (305274)

ASIAN Touch Oriental European massage, prostatic, tantric, very relaxing relief pain stress, private luxury. Elviria. Marbella. 604 473 831 (MI 582)

ASIAN MASSUER offers relaxing full body massage. Home Visits. WhatsApp 641 980 066 for details (304011)

OLGA Mature Masseure relaxing & sensitive. Outcalls & Incalls. 24 hrs. Marbella – Tel: 632 467 580 (304040)

FUENGIROLA - Johanna Brazilian 45yrs Slim Mature Masseur. Relaxing Massages. Best relax guaranteed. Tel: 617.818.615 (305174)

ORIENTAL ladyboy pretty professional traditional, tantric massage relieving. Marbella. 604 428 812 (MI 582)

ASIAN PROFESSIONAL Massage, sensual, relaxing & therapeutic, to release tension & stress. Fuengirola. Call 613 592 062 (304091)

ASIAN ladyboy and gay, authentic professional/traditional massage therapy unique treatment, clean atmosphere. Marbella. 603 257 690 (MI 582)

GENESIS blond explosive masseur, men and women, from Venezuela. 24 hours - outcall / incall - visa & amex - Tel. 680 55 614 (304861)

CASSIE. Mature English lady. Discreet and clean. Fuengirola. 667 914 732 (FU 3031)

FILIPINO MASSAGE CENTRE, where hearts of Asian proffessional massage daily. 604 421 973 (MI 582)

BARBARA mature masseur educated 42yrs, private, 24hrs, Marbella. Tel 613 213 030 (304740)

CRISTINA and MIA - duo masseurs on holiday in Marbella - infall & outcalls 24hrs - visa & amex - Tel. 680 55 614 (304861)

ORIENTAL ladyboy pretty professional traditional, tantric massage relieving. Marbella. 604 428 812 (MI 576)

THAI Benalmádena Costa. Body-body full massages. Visits, hotels. Whatsapp 689 387 448 (MI 583)

FUENGIROLA. Marisa, 38 years old, mature, all kinds of massages. Only WhatsApp. 631 659 408 (FU 3225)

LOS BOLICHES - Carolina Pretty Masseur, Slim 45yrs Relaxing Massage, Guaranteed relax - Tel: 634.703.111 (305174)

WWW.CASAKINKSPAIN.COM

Heated pool, Jacuzzi and private bar. Inland private retreat with a full massage service. 662 913 428 (FU 3224)

EVA, JAMAICAN full body professional massage, discreet, San Pedro de Alcantara, Marbella 613 211 041 (305387)

BRIGITTE, French, Curvy, Funny, Friendly, Charming, and elegant 722393835 (305751)

MASSAGE and fun!!! Genuine trained exotic Male tantric masseur. 602 098 606 (FU 3227)

SAN PEDRO BEACH. RELAXING AND SENSITIVE MASSEUSES

WELCOME YOU IN A PRIVATE AND DISCREET PLACE. YOUNG, PLEASANT. WITH APPOINTMENT. EASY, PRIVATE PARKING. 666 194 079 - 674 679 757. (305694)

HELLO, I am Olga, a mature professional masseuse, slim blonde, 48 years old, independent, in a private apartment. 632 467 580 (296424)

BENALMÁDENA. FRIENDLY attractive masseuse, relieve muscle tension. From 50€. 613 106 153 (FU 3228)

FUENGIROLA. Beautiful Venezuelan Ladyboy massage and relax Violeta. 660 867 374 (FU 3235)

Hi! My name is Elisa, a professional masseuse Sensual and fun Whatsapp on: 611 232 220 (305557)

MIA, Brazilian brunette, offers relaxing sensual massage, to release tension. Whatssap: 613 976 350 (305558)

MEETING POINT

BRAZILIAN lady wltm man 48-85 A drink friendship? 616801141 (305751)

MISCELLANEOUS

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

MOSQUITO SCREENS

MOSQUITO Screens for windows, doors and a high-quality sliding patio door screen. All finishes available. Quick service. All areas covered. Call Julian 655 825 931 (303730)

MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours, call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www. mosquitonick.ws (304439)

MOTORING

lost papers. Change your car to Spanish plates, simple efficient service. Cars bought and sold. Please call 678808837 or email carsinspain@live.co.uk (290189)

Wanted

CARS, Vans, Bikes wanted. Any Reg, Anything Considered Call or Whatsapp 687 049 592 (305254) WANTED CARS AND VANS, FREE COLLECTION, SAME DAY 685 524 921 (290189)

CARS, VANS BOUGHT WITH / WITHOUT PAPERS. CASH WAITING 678 808 837 (303115)

EURO CAR Established since 1998. All Cars / Commercials wanted, runners or no-runners. Cash. Buyer Collects. Transfer included. 605 109 796 (304099)

OTHERS

EDS? We have the solution, Kamag ra pills & jells, Cialis, Sidenafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs.Free delivery throughout Costa del Sol. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

PASSPORT RENEWALS

CAMPER VANS, CARAVANS, MOBILE HOMES, BOATS AND ALL PLANT, DIGGERS, DUMPERS, MOTORBIKES, CARS AND COMMERCIALS WANTED. BEST PRICE PAID, CASH TODAY, ANY REGISTRATION WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 (290189)

CARS, VANS, ANY RESGISTRATION, INSTANT CASH, FINANCE / EMBARGO UK OR SPANISH 685 524 921 (290189)

CARS, VANS UK OR SPANISH BOUGHT FOR CASH. FREE COLLECTION IN SPAIN / UK. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 OR 952 669 701 (290189)

WANTED, wanted, wanted!! All cars, all years, all models… from exotic to classic. Spanish, English, Dutch plated. Call us on 951 977 329 or 606 647 597. (304490)

FOR SALE

FORD FOCUS Ghia Estate, 2005, 2ltr td, 190,000kms, 6 speed light blue, ITV. Lovely car. €3,295. Call 602 533 508 (305754)

ACE OF SHADES - Don’t let the bugs get you! Available in enrollable, slider and pleated. Large choice of colours including wood effect. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades. design (101730)

ADANA THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN ESTEPONA. We always need volunteers to walk and socialise with our dogs and help with cleaning. We also need good homes for our animals that you can see on www.adana.es. Kennels open every day 10-1.30, Camino de Casares, near Parque de los Pedregales, Estepona. (5 minutes from the Poligono) For more information call 952 113 467, available from 10.00am until 2.00pm. (93319)

ANIMEX Foundation offers free will upgrading when leaving something for abandoned animals. Contact animexfoundation@gmail.com or call 692 166 434 now for this absolutely free service (288287)

MASSAGE

UK & IRISH Passport renewals including photos. Complete Service. Cath’s Cards. 952 885 759. www.cathscards.es (305529)

PEST CONTROL

COCKROACHES, ANTS, insects, fleas, mice, rats, wasps, termite specialists. Fumigations, bars, restaurants, houses, etc. Sanitary department officially registered certificates. Serving the coast since 1985. Only legal English owned pest control company on the coast. If you want the best then phone N.P.S. Paul 676 700 370 (303636)

PETS

LAGUNAPETHOTEL.COM Loving care for cats and dogs TEL 646 066 351 (302996)

KENNELS

CAT & DOG World Kennels and Cattery. 952 112 978 / 630 197 435. www.catanddogworld. com (305520)

PET CHARITY

ACE CHARITY ‘El Refugio’ in La

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

CAR SERVICES

ENGLISH bodyshop, fully equipped, Mijas Costa. No Job Too Small. 952 667 074 (304140)

IMPORT/TRANSFER

CARS TRANSFERRED, history checks, Imports and Embargo problems. Change of use and

Cala de Mijas is a registered charity. We have on average 275 dogs in our care and we receive no help from the town hall or the Andalucian government. We desperately need foster homes and adoptants for our many dogs, especially the small ones and puppies who do not do well in a big shelter. We are grateful for any help offered, including donations of food and blankets. Visiting times are from 13.00 to 15.00 and you can always turn up or make an appointment by calling Denise on 669 018 736. Our website is www. ace-charity.org where you can view all the dogs in our care. (93320)

ARCH - The Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses, registered charity 8448, the Centre is open to visitors every Sunday from 9am until 2pm. Working closely with the Spanish authorities, we rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abused and abandoned horses and donkeys. Come and meet our current rescues, learn about our work and how you may be able to help. Run solely by a small team of dedicated volunteers, the Centre is located between Alhaurin el Grande and Coin in Comm. de Viña Borrego behind Venta Miralmonte. For more information and directions see our website www.horserescuespain.org, our Facebook page Centro Andalusi de Rescate de Caballos or tel. 610 845 491 or 656 935 613 (93322) LAWYERS

SEPE the horse and donkey charity is open to the public at weekends from 10.00 to 5.00. Volunteers are much needed in all departments and are welcome at any time. For our riding for the disabled classes, we are also in need of extra helpers. We are nationally registered by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (164640) but only with your support can we give the equine a voice. If you can just commit to 2 or 3 euros a month it will really help make a difference. You can find us at Lauro Golf Equestrian Centre, Alqueria, Alhaurin de la Torre. Tel. 608 258 950 info@sepeonline.net www. sepeonline.net (93321)

SOS ANIMAL REFUGE we have dogs, young and old looking for homes. Some of our dogs have been with us for some time and would love to find a cosy spot to curl up in and a knee on which to rest their heads. If you have room in your heart and home we would love to hear from you. We do not put our dogs to sleep - no matter how old, they are safe with us. For day to day needs and to pay for veterinary care, we much appreciate the support we receive. We desperately need items to sell on our market stall to help raise funds and are happy to come and collect. So, if you are having a clear-out, please contact us on

605 227 155. If you would like to know more about rehoming, please call 653 257 875. Visit our website www.sos-animals.org or please phone Sandy on 952 385 923 or 666 814 056 if you would like to make a donation or help in any way. (93317)

PLUMBING

PLUMBING. Leak detection & blocked drains. Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com (296441)

POOLS

take the stress out of selling your home. No sale no fee!! English agent on the ball with clients waiting. Please call 685 524 921.

PROP MAINTENANCE

STARLIGHT Property Cleaning & Maintenance All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. Persiana repairs, Decorating, Electrial & Plumbing repairs. 682 636451 www. starlight-spain.com (304520)

PROPERTY TO LET

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM

Costa del Sol Property Long Term Rentals All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422 UK +44 208 144 5008. Email info@ intermarbella.com (305258)

PROPERTY WANTED

PROPERTY

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM

Costa del Sol Property Sales & Long term rentals wanted. All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008. Email info@ intermarbella.com (305258)

PRIVATE BUYER looking for properties between Marbella to Malaga at realistic prices. Quick decision and cash purchase if suitable. Any condition but must be legal. Call or Whatsapp 0034606 526 618 (305263)

Thinking of selling your property or interested in a current valuation? We have clients actively looking for properties from Torremolinos to Calahonda. List with us and let us sell your property.  Call Joe 626 864 683 (305376)

PROPERTY FOR SALE

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM

Costa del Sol Property for sale. All areas / all budgets / all types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008 Email info@ intermarbella.com (305258)

SELLING UP?? Why not give us a call and let us give you an honest and realistic valuation of your property. List with us and let us

REMOVALS/STORAGE

15 CUBIC metre van returning to the UK 26th April 2024. Space available each way. Tel. 639 928 090

Man and Van

MAN & VAN, 20€ ph. Removals, Rubbish & House Clearances. Paul 634 112 677 (294214)

2 MEN, Van €30 p hour. House Clearances & Storage. 651 081 610 (304603)

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (301418)

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (301129)

Storage

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (301129)

ROLLER SHUTTERS

ACE OF SHADES - PERSIANA (security shutter) electric and manual, various colours available including wood effect, we also offer a repair service. Make your home more secure! Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@ aceofshades.design (101730)

ROLLER shutter repairs, 7 days a week, conversion from manual to motorised, new installations. All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (303730)

SITUATIONS WANTED

RELIABLE TRUSTWORTHY Irish gentleman looking to be private assistant to individual in the Estepona to Sotogrande areas for driving and general errands. Available 7 days a week 24/7. Call/Whatsapp +353 852 748610 (305659)

SOLAR

SOLAR Hot Water heating: FREE HOT WATER.  28 years installation history in Spain. Envirocare. All areas covered. Quality guaranteed. 952 663 141/ 670 409 759  info@envirocarespain. com www.envirocarespain.com

SOFT FURNISHINGS

CURTAINS, blinds, cushions and much more. Free estimates and home visits. Tel 657 369 343 or rosannacarmella8@gmail.com

SPECIALTY SERVICES

SWIMMING Pool Heating Pumps, Pool Covers, Rollers, Filtration Systems.  28 years installation history in Spain. Envirocare.  All areas covered.  Quality Guarante ed. 952663141/670409759   in fo@envirocarespain.com www. envirocarespain.com (305304)

TRANSLATORS

OFFICIAL TRANSLATIONS All Languages. 952 789 204 Mobile 654 613 094 sanpedrotranslations@gmail.com (305305)

TV/SATELLITE

REPAIRS to TV’s, LCD, LED, -Videos, Hi-Fi, & Microwaves, Mag Boxes, UK channels installed. 35 years experience. Free Estimates, Can Collect. John 952 491 723 or 600 706 201. (305655)

UPHOLSTERY

ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, 28 years experience, wet/ dry clean.  Honest, reliable.  678 808 837 / 952 669 701 acservs@ outlook.com (290189)

UPHOLSTERY including leather cleaned also carpets. 685 524 921 (290189)

CARPETS AND SOFAS cleaned. Reliable, fast service. Family run. Cleansol 952 930 861 / 607 610 578. 10am - 10pm 7 days, all areas Discount Code: EWN 1 CLEAN (206437) WATER

STORAGE, Storage, Storage. Man & Van Services. Call/Whatsapp 690 155 340 (304667)

MAN AND VAN removals / storage service. House clearances Collections and deliveries Waste removal NO JOB TOO SMALL Call Mike on 604 380 570 (304093)

A&J REMOVALS For all your clearance, delivery and removal needs. Moving never looked so good. Call us on 662534877

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

PROFESSIONAL LOCAL REMOVALS AT AFFORDABLE RATES. 1/2 DAY FROM €90. FULL DAY FROM €175. WE ALSO PROVIDE A FORTNIGHTLY DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE TO UK AND EUROPE (INCL SCOTLAND). WORLDWIDE SHIPPING TO USA, AUSTRALIA, ETC AND FULL STORAGE FACILITIES. TEL (0034) 952 578 507 OR (0034) 637 892 278 / EMAIL garymoveit@yahoo. co.uk (304252)

JDS EURO TRANSPORT & REMOVALS - Regular trips throughout Europe. Call or WhatsApp Julian 0044 7884 908 929. See Facebook Page for recommendations (304139)

3 IN 1. Nurse 17 years experience, Cleaner, Home help. English / Dutch speaking. Limited slots available €30 per hour. WhatsApp or Call 690 849 277, 24 hours (304638)

SWIMMING POOLS

POOL MAINTENANCE, & Repairs, including heaters & regrouts. Friendly & reliable service. Malaga to Estepona & inland areas. 678 791 495 / 951 536 389 www. sparklenripple.net (304345)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

By Mark Slack ROAD TEST

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

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

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

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

tant and automatic transmission.

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

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

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

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

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

Facts at a Glance

Model: BMW iX2 XDrive30 MSport AWD

Engine: 64.8 kwh battery –225 kw/306 hp

Gears: Automatic

Price: €66,956/£57,445

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

Maximum Speed 180 kph (112 mph).

Range: 429 km/267 miles on single charge

Emissions: 0 g/km

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

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

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

ANDALUCIA WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Cup semi-finals confirmed!

Axarfusion Cup Over 50s

• Marbella Marbesula 3 v 2 AC Benahavis

This was an extremely physical game and, with two such highly-rated, competitive teams, it was no surprise that the scoreline was so close. Goals for Benahavis came from Darrell O’Grady and Lee Weatherall with no current information available as to the scorers for Marbella.

• Internacionales Mollina 1 v 5 Real Calahonda

Much as they tried, Mollina could not cover up their defensive frailties and this contributed greatly to the scoreline. The visitors kept up the pressure throughout with some fine passing and movement, with goals coming from Tommy McMillan, Sean McVitty and a Gary Robertson hat-trick. In the second half, Andy Barnet pulled one back for the home side but by then it was too late!

These and previous results led to the following draw for the semi-finals:

Over 50s Semi-finals:

Malaga v Real Calahonda

Inter Mollina v Marbella Marbesula

Over 60s Semi-finals:

Real Calahonda v Malaga

Boca Seniors Competa v Nerja United

*All semi-finals to be played before May 26. The Final will be played in early June. Keep checking your local club’s

Facebook page or website to discover the exact dates for these matches and go along to support!

And elsewhere.......

AWFL Over 60s

Boca Seniors Competa 0 v 7 AC Benahavis

The visitors began strongly, playing some fluid football and, with most of the pressure on the hosts, Benahavis had comfortably scored five by the break. In the second half, Competa were able to regroup somewhat and defended more effectively but were unable to prevent another two goals for Benahavis without being able to reply. Visiting scorers were Marc Morris (4), Mark Cooper (2) and Rob Fitz. This serves to reinforce the attacking reputation of AC Benahavis and their untouchable league top spot.

Controversial number withdrawn

SPORTS clothes manufacturer Adidas has made the decision to withdraw a particular numbered shirt from Germany’s national side.

The decision was announced on Monday, April 1, when Adidas, the German sports clothing giant, decided to remove and block the sale of the German national football team’s shirt bearing the number 44 on their online store.

The move came after the design, earmarked for EURO 2024, sparked an uproar over its perceived resemblance to the Nazi ‘SS’ symbol, a principal organization under Hitler’s regime responsible for many of the atrocities of the Second World War. The decision underscores Adidas’ commitment to inclusivity and its firm stance against any form of hate.

Smiles and tears at Copa del Rey final

Sven Larson

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

The curve ball flipped through the penalty area before Dani Rodríguez shot it in.

Bilbao then relentless-

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

However, 23-time winners Bilbao controlled much of the game with nearly 70 per cent possession.

After extra time, the score stood at a 1-1 draw and the final result was decided on penalties.

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

Mallorca scored two penalties but let in four shots by opponents Athletic Bilbao, whereas opposing goalkeeper Julen Agirre-

Adidas reacted swiftly to feedback from the public and various com munities onli ne. The specific style of the numeral ‘four’, especially when doubled to ‘44’, bore an uncomfortable similarity to the insignia used by the Nazi SS units, entities infamous for their roles in operating concentration and death camps.

Oliver Bruggen, a spokesperson for Adidas, made it clear that the resemblance was completely unintended, reinforcing the company’s dedication to fighting ‘xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in every form’.

The German Football Federation (DFB) alongside Adidas, took the criticisms seriously, despite none of the parties involved recognising the controversial similarity during the design process.

A statement from the DFB highlighted their routine process of reviewing numbers from 0-9 and submitting 1-26 to UEFA for approval, admitting that the similarity was overlooked.

Paris Olympics news

zabala managed to fend off the Mallorca penalty shots.

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

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

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

Trainer Javier Javier Aguirre emphasised that proach” and that he was “very proud and glad to be here” at the final. Mallorca last won

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vedat Muriqi fends off Oscar de Marcos.

Credit: RCD Mallorca