Costa Blanca South 27 March – 2 April 2025 Issue 2073 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

Broadening Horizons

Going Global: Costa Blanca takes the spotlight

THE Costa Blanca is making waves as a must-visit destination, attracting visitors from around the world.

Recently, a group of Chinese journalists and influencers, with millions of social media followers, explored Elche’s rich cultural heritage.

Alicante, too, is stepping into the spotlight with a series of visits from international tour operators and journalists throughout March and April.

Italy’s Evolution Travel will also send agents to explore Alicante as a family-friendly destination.

Meanwhile, travel journalists from New York will discover the city’s best experiences and share them with American audiences, a market that continues to show growing interest in Alicante.

Ten MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) specialists from the UK will tour Alicante. Their goal is to organise world-class business events and incentive trips that put Alican-

te on the global business tourism map.

Alicante’s gastronomy is also in the spotlight.

The Czech television show Foodies Viajando will film an episode in the city, highlighting its incredible cuisine. Adding star power, renowned Czech actor Ondrej Ruml will take part in the programme.

Jet2, one of the top

airlines at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, is bringing its agents to experience the region firsthand and

explore the best hotels, attractions, and experiences that will soon be offered to their customers.

Costa Blanca South • Issue No. 2073 • 27 March - 2 April 2025 FREE FREE FREI GRATIS

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Chinese journalists and influencers exploring Elche.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Elche

Emma’s Journey

VILLENA is supporting the project ‘Emma’s Journey: A 110-km Charity Journey Against Rett Syndrome’. This charitable event involves a five-year-old girl named Emma, who has Rett Syndrome, as she travels 110 kilometres along the Vinalopó River, from its source to its mouth, to raise awareness about the condition.

Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects one in every 10,000 girls. It impacts brain development and leads to a gradual loss of motor skills and speech.

The purpose of ‘Emma’s Journey’ is to raise awareness of the disease, fund research, and cover the costs of Emma’s daily needs,

ELDA has announced new dates for its ‘Up the Curtain’ guided tour, offering visitors the chance to ex plore the Castelar Thea tre, one of Elda’s most iconic buildings, for free. This tour will also feature the special commemorative exhibition celebra ting the theatre’s 120th anniver sary, showcasing antique artefacts, images, and fasci nating facts about the theatre’s his tory.

such as a stairlift and ongoing medical therapies.

The event will take place on May 24. Emma, joined by athletes from the Pumas Trail Club of Villena, will travel the route in a Joëlette chair, a special wheelchair designed for rough terrain. The journey will start at 4am from the river’s source, and the team will pass through Villena, where they will be joined by other participants. They will continue to Santa Pola, where Emma is expected to reach the finish line at the Town Hall Square by 8pm.

If you would like to support the project, head to the website: elviajedeemma.com

Up the Curtain

‘Up the Curtain’ allows visitors to access the stage tower, providing a behind-the-scenes look at where the magic of the theatre happens. The tours will take place on Sundays at 11am, with the first tour on March 30. Additional tours will be held

on April 13 and May 25.

The Castelar Theatre is a key monument in the city. In 2024, the Elda Tourism Department hosted 34 organised groups of visitors from outside Elda, bringing more than 1,200 people to the city.

‘Up the Curtain’ tour is

free of charge but requires a reservation, which can be made through the Elda Tourist Information Office by visiting in person, calling (+34) 966 980 300, sending a WhatsApp message to (+34) 647 851 758, or emailing turismo@ elda.es.

Image: Fer Gregory Shutterstock.com

New guided tour.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Villena

Raising awareness.

Spanish retirement reforms

Key changes from April 2025

FROM April 1, Spain’s Social Security system will introduce significant changes affecting partial retirement, active retirement, and delayed retirement. These changes aim to improve the compatibility between pensions and employment, allowing more people to work, should they choose to, while still receiving their pension.

Partial retirement in Spain

One of the most notable reforms is to partial retirement, both with and without a replacement contract. The key up dates include:

• Early partial retirement will be available up to three years before the official retirement age.

• Employees working more than two years in advance can reduce their working hours by 20-33 per cent in the first year.

• Temporary workers can now be hired as relief workers for those on partial retirement.

• The replacement contract must now be full-time and permanent, the replacement employee must remain in the position for at least two years after the partial retiree steps down.

• Workers reaching the standard retirement age can now opt for partial retirement without a replacement contract, with working hour reductions between 25 per cent and 75 per cent (previously capped at 50 per cent).

Active retirement in Spain

Active retirement, which allows pensioners to work while receiving their pension, will undergo major changes. From April 2025:

• Pensioners will no longer be required to have completed their entire contribution career to qualify.

• Active retirement can now be combined with delayed retirement incentives, offering greater flexibility.

The percentage of pension allowed while working will gradually increase over time:

• one year of active retirement: 45 per cent of pension can

be received.

• two years: 55 per cent

• three years: 65 per cent

• After five years: 100 per cent of pension can be received.

This reform aims to encourage older workers to stay in the labour market without financial penalties while providing a smoother transition to full retirement.

Delayed retirement in Spain

The Spanish government is also modifying delayed retirement rules, which allow workers to postpone their retirement in exchange for a higher pension.

• From April 2025, workers will only need to contribute for six months in the second year of their delay to qualify for Social Security financial incentives.

• Previously, a full year of contributions was required to access these benefits.

• This adjustment aims to encourage more workers to delay retirement, giving them access to incentives sooner. https://www.sede.seg-social.gob.es

Warning to used car buyers

THE Guardia Civil has sounded the alarm on Spain’s booming second-hand car market, warning buyers to be on high alert for online deals that seem too good to be true. With prices soaring, more motorists are turning to used cars, but that bargain motor could come with a nasty surprise.

In a video on TikTok (@ guardia_civil_navarra), an officer from the Benemerita delivered a clear message: “Never make a pay-

ment before seeing the vehicle in person.” He also offered a golden rule for spotting a scam: “If the price seems suspiciously low, don’t trust it.”

The warning comes amid a rise in fraudulent listings and dodgy deals, with criminals preying on eager buyers looking for a bargain. Scammers often lure victims with unrealistically low prices, pressuring them into sending deposits before they even set eyes on the car.

To steer clear of trouble, the Guardia Civil recommends requesting a full vehicle report from Spain’s DGT. This official document provides crucial details, such as past owners-

Clocks go forward

DAYLIGHT Savings Time begins on Sunday March 30 at 2.00am. At this time, clocks will ‘spring forward’ as we welcome in the longer days and sunnier seasons of spring and summer.

British Embassy: get TIE now

FOR those of you who still have the green certificate to validate your legal residency in Spain, you will have to change it for a TIE card now or face not being able to travel.

New information from the Spanish government, supplied to the Euro Weekly News by the British Embassy in Spain, says that the soon-to-be implemented Entry Exit System (EES) of the EU will not recognise the old green certificate as a valid ID.

The EES is expected at some point in 2025. Under this new border system, all non-EU short-stay travellers will need to register their name, passport details, and data upon entering Spain or any other EU country.

British residents in Spain will need to show a valid uniform-format identity card, in this case the TIE, to be exempt from the EES system and therefore travel freely across the Schengen EU border to the UK and back, as the green certificate will no longer be accepted as proof of residency in Spain. Without a TIE, it could be that the computers flag you as having stayed too long in the EU and therefor Border officers may detain you, or expel you from the country.

More information on how to apply, including links to Spanish government websites where the applications are made, can be found on the ‘Living in Spain’ guide on gov.uk.

Tax season is almost here!

hip, accident history, and any outstanding debts on the car.

Beyond checking the paperwork, experts advise buyers to consider key factors like the car’s reliability, size, fuel type, and, most importantly, their budget. Comparing different makes and models is also a smart move to ensure you’re not overpaying - or worse, being conned.

Many buyers also use second-hand car checking services like www.needcarhelp.es. These services will come and check the second-hand car you’re interested in and give you a full report of any faults or issues found. They also run a car history check and check the documents for you.

TAX season is approaching fast in Spain, and from March 19, residents can access their fiscal data online via the Agencia Tributaria portal. This early check allows you to spot mistakes or missing details before the official income tax return (IRPF) filing period begins on April 2. Reviewing your information ahead of time helps avoid last-minute corrections or potential fines. Common errors include incorrect addresses, outdated bank accounts, or missing income records. If you discover an issue after submitting, you can still amend your return before the final deadline. To check your data, visit the Agencia Tributaria website and select ‘Datos Fiscales’.

You can log in using cl@ve, electronic DNI, a digital certificate, or the reference number from last year’s return. Once inside, you’ll be able to verify and update your tax details directly. While online filing opens on April 2, those preferring in-person appointments will need to wait until May when face-to-face services become available. Spain’s tax office reminds residents that Bizum transfers under €10,000 usually don’t need to be declared, unless they are business-related. Inheritances themselves are not included in income tax returns, but any profit from the sale or rental of inherited assets must be reported. Workers with multiple employers also face additional filing obligations - if you earned more than €15,000 across various sources and over €1,500 from a second employer, you will need to file. In general, anyone earning more than €22,000 per year must submit a return, though exceptions apply. Taking time to review your data now could help you avoid complications down the line.

https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/

Fiesta comeback

THE groups from the colourful parade which takes place on September 6 will reunite to celebrate the Mig Any (Mid-Year) Festival, bringing back a tradition that had been discontinued for several years.

Santa Pola’s councillor for Festivals, Nely Baile, announced the event’s return, highlighting the enthusiasm of local festival-goers.

“After a long absence, Mig Any is back thanks to the dedication of our community, proving that the festive spirit in Santa Pola is as strong as ever,” she said.

The festival will take place on Sunday, March 30.

At noon, a parade featuring dance groups, gymnasiums, and dance schools will make its way through

DOLORES has announced its second National Holy Week Photography Contest, aiming to promote artistic photography in the context of Holy Week. Submissions for the contest will be open until Monday April 28.

The contest is open to all, whe-

various streets, including Elche, Glorieta, Santa Isabel, Calle Ramón, and Calle Cajal, before ending at

Easter

in focus

ther professional photographers or amateurs.

The only requirement is that the

Glorieta. Several musical bands will accompany the parade.

At 2.00pm, participants will gather in a municipal tent near the Castle for food, followed by a DJ performance. Entry is free, until full venue capacity is reached.

The councillor expressed gratitude to everyone who helped revive this tradition, emphasising its importance in preserving Santa Pola’s festive identity. She also encouraged residents and visitors to attend, adding that as more esta groups join, the event will continue to grow each year.

photos must be taken within the municipality of Dolores during Holy Week. The contest rules are available on the o cial website at dolores.es.

There are two prizes for the contest: a rst prize of €350 and a second prize of €150.

ORIHUELA’S Tourism Department has organised a series of tours this April, o ering residents and visitors a chance to explore the city’s history, culture, and food. These events are part of the Holy Week celebrations, a time when the city welcomes many tourists.

The programme starts on Friday, April 4, with ‘Dulces Pasos’, a guided walk through convents in the historic centre, ending with a tasting of traditional convent sweets.

On Saturday, April 12, the ‘Relics of the Passion’ tour will take visitors to the Franciscan convent of Santa Ana. This includes access to its little-known museum, which holds religious artefacts and artistic treasures.

During Holy Week, from Tuesday, April 15 to Friday, April 18, daily ‘Walking Through History’ tours will highlight Orihuela’s historic landmarks. These tours start at 11am.

For poetry lovers, two tours focus on Miguel Her-

April fun

nández. On Friday, April 25, a special walk through the palm grove, the second largest in Europe, will feature poetry readings in a natural setting. The next day, Saturday, April 26, the ‘Miguel Hernández: Life and Work’ tour will visit key locations linked to his legacy.

The nal event on Sunday, April 27, is an inte-

ractive visit to the Science Museum at the UMH campus in Desamparados. This family-friendly activity includes a museum tour and a physics workshop for both children and adults.

Bookings open weekly. Reserve your spot via the o cial website orihuela turistica.es or WhatsApp (+34) 673 836 385.

Brits abroad

BRITISH tourists make up a large share of visitors to Alicante, with one in three coming from the UK. Last year, over 2.6 million Britons travelled to the Costa Blanca, showing that neither Brexit nor the pandemic has slowed them down. They remain a key part of the region’s tourism industry.

The numbers reect what’s happening at Alicante-Elche Airport, the main entry point for travellers. The airport set a new record for passengers, and the trend has continued into 2025. Out of 18 million people who passed through, more than 6.1 million were British, con rming their status as the largest group of visitors.

Ryanair dominates the market for UK travellers, handling 45 per cent of British tourists. easyJet follows with 27 per cent, and Jet2 has 17.5 per cent. Leading tour operators include Southall Travel, ST&H, Svenska Reisengruppen, E Dreams, and British Airways.

London is the top city of origin, accounting for 29.4 per cent of visitors, but other cities also contribute signicantly. Manchester makes up 12 per

cent, Bristol 7.3 per cent, Nottingham 6.6 per cent, and Birmingham 6.3 per cent.

Flights between Alicante and the UK are frequent, making up 37 per cent of the airport’s operations. Last year, there were 36,430 ights between the two locations, averaging 99 per day. Manchester had the highest number, with 5,090 ights, or about 12 daily.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela

Councillor for Tourism, Gonzalo Montoya Alcocer.

Ryanair dominates the market.

Demographic dance Beach bar blues

OVER the past three decades, Alicante has not only grown in population but has also undergone profound demographic changes shaped by factors such as age, national origin, and neighbourhood distribution.

Municipal census data from 1997 to 2024 shows that the city has gained 93,914 inhabitants, marking a 33 per cent increase. However, this growth has been far from uniform. Playa de San Juan and Garbinet have nearly sextupled their populations, while newer districts like PAU 1, PAU 2, and Gran Vía Sur now collectively house around 20,000 residents.

of its population in 27 years and dropping from the city’s most populated neighbourhood to the fifth. The decline in historic neighbourhoods was especially pronounced between 2005 and 2021, contrasting with earlier widespread growth seen in the first four years of the millennium.

TORREVIEJA’S beaches will not have beach bar service during Easter, as the 10 planned spaces will not be ready in time for mid-April due to processing delays.

According to the seasonal schedule, the beach bars should have started operating a week ago, as the speci cations for beach establishments allow for a 231-day operating period each year, from March 15 to October 31, covering the seasons of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Meanwhile, traditional central areas such as the Old Town, Benalúa, Alipark, San Fernando-Princesa Mercedes, Florida Alta, and Ensanche Diputación have seen a combined decline of 14.8 per cent, losing 7,145 residents over the period.

Ensanche Diputación has been particularly affected, losing a fifth

In the last two years, Alicante’s population has grown again, with increases of 3.2 per cent in 2022 and 2.7 per cent in 2023. However, this growth has been almost entirely driven by an increase in foreign residents, rising from 62,195 people (17.7 per cent of the population in 2021) to 82,604 (22.2 per cent by the end of 2023).

Each beach bar will have a 20-square-metre space and a 50-square-metre terrace, along with toilets for men, women, and disabled

access. Six of the 10 beach bars will be located on La Mata beach. Another will be at Cabo Cervera, one at Los Locos beach (south of it, at Calle Islandia), and two more on Los Náufragos beach. The beach bars on La Mata beach are distributed along the salt canal at the northern end and

next to the urban dune in the central part. Two more are located at the section of Parque del Molino del Agua, with another two to the south of the beach. The award process is currently in the tender submission phase, which closed on March 24.

A Look Around

The exhibition showcases the natural wonders found in the surroundings of the Benejuzar mountain range.

No beach bars.

Image: Pura Vida - Chiringuito Bar - Torrevieja

Alicante’s population continues to grow.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Alicante

THE Interpretation Centre of the Natural Park del Hondo will host the photographic exhibition ‘A Look Around’ by Justo Ferrer until May 4.

Learn the lingo

ALBATERA’S Department of Education and International Residents has unveiled the academic offerings for language training for 2025. These eagerly awaited courses aim to promote language skills within the community. Juan Manuel Cánovas, councillor for both departments, outlined the scope of the two courses.

The first is a Valencian language course, offered at levels B1 and B2, designed to continue promoting the language of the Valencian Community. The second is a Spanish for Foreigners course, aimed at ensuring international residents in Albatera gain proficiency in Spanish to help with their integration and development in the community.

The Valencian course will begin on Tuesday April 1, followed by the Spanish for Foreigners course, which starts on April 2. Both courses require registration, which can be done online at albatera.es until March 28.

The councillor encouraged everyone interested to participate.

CHARO ESQUIVA of the Torrevieja Tennis Club has claimed a remarkable victory at the J300 Junior ITF tournament in Villena, held at the Juan Carlos Ferrero academy. In the final, Charo defeated Latvian, Beatrise Zeltina, with scores of 7-5 and 6-3. Her strong performance, including reaching the semifinals alongside English player Flora John-

Torre Champ

son, has earned her enough points to move up to around 30th in the world rankings. With this achievement, Charo is now virtually qualified for the Junior finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon for the third year in a row. Congratulations to the champion!

Explore in style

ALICANTE has launched the Turibús service a little earlier than planned this year.

In 2024, 31,125 passengers used the service, marking a 5 per cent increase from the previous year, according to city officials.

The Turibús departs from Puerta del Mar Square every hour between 10am and 1pm, and again from 4pm to 6pm. The circular route lasts an hour with 11 stops along the way. Tickets cost €5 for children, €10 for adults, and €7 for seniors.

Tourists can enjoy guided tours in six languages: Spanish, Valencian, English, French, German, and Italian. The route passes by 11 important landmarks and allows passengers to get on and off at any stop. This makes it easy for visitors to explore the monuments, shop, or switch to other city buses.

The main stop is at Plaza Puerta del Mar, near the port and Postiguet Beach. Buses run every hour from morning to evening, seven days a week, stopping at key tourist spots. These include Santa Bárbara Castle, the Provincial Archaeological Museum (MARQ), the Rambla, Plaza de España, the Central Market, Plaza de los Luceros, and the Bus Station. There are also stops at shopping districts and the Port’s Ocean Race Village Museum.

The Turibús connects with major TRAM stops, including MARQ, the Central Market, and Luceros, and links to both city and intercity transport. The hopon hop-off service will run until December 8.

Tourists can enjoy guided tours in six languages.

Image:

Chasing the moon

COSTA BLANCA astrophotographer

Jordy L Coy has fulfilled a long-held dream by capturing the moon over the New York skyline.

During lockdown, he recreated the city using screws and staples to simulate its skyscrapers, as it was the only way to bring himself closer to that vision. Now, after his recent trip to the Big Apple, he can finally say he has made it a reality and is working to help others achieve the same.

Coy successfully photographed March’s full Moon in a striking orange hue, perfectly aligned with the Statue of Liberty. To capture the image, he had to be in the right location at the exact moment. His journey involved a nearly two-hour solo trip, crossing half of Manhattan before taking a ferry to New Jersey. From a spot 2.5 km away from the statue, he was able to achieve the perfect alignment at 7.48pm. He deliberately chose a full Moon as the highlight of his first expedition. The trip was made possible with the support of Frikitraveller, an Elda-based travel agency specialising in international and themed trips.

For the astrophotographer, the journey was the perfect combination of his passion for astrophotography and his deep admiration for New York.

Fundraising raffle in Jacarilla

BUTTERFLIES Cafetería in Jacarilla is hosting an event to raise money for the cancer support foundation MABS.

In recognition of the marvellous work of care and support for cancer sufferers and their families carried out by MABS, Butterflies cafeteria in Jacarilla has decided to organise this their second fundraising event on Thursday April 3 from 10am to 2pm.

There will be a raffle with a range of prizes including Butterflies delicious treats. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the fun and goodwill.

Picture perfect

PROYECTO MASTRAL has once again donated all profits from its charity calendar sales. The calendars, featuring photographs of Torrevieja’s weather, were available at various locations across the city.

A MABS press release stated: “When we are most in need of help there are some hidden angels who come to our side and that is genuinely how we feel about the volunteers who work for the MABS association.

“Many of them travel considerable distances to offer warmth, compassion and basic human care to sufferers of cancer throughout the Vega Baja area and beyond.”

Money donations can also be taken to Butterflies cafeteria, Avda de la Paz from Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 2pm.

The

This year, the sales raised €2,400, which has been equally shared between two local organisations. AFA Torrevieja, which supports Alzheimer’s patients, and GAEX, which helps former addicts, each received €1,200.

ON March 30 at 10am, Guardamar del Segura is inviting volunteers to help with a cleanup event. As a thank you, volunteers will be rewarded with a healthy brunch. For more information, WhatsApp (+34) 699 273 339 or email alcaldia@alcaldia guardamar.com.

Right location at the right time.

Charity calendar sales.

Image:

Proyecto Mastral

Costa shows quality

ALICANTE-ELCHE Airport continues to break records and earn recognition. The airport has once again claimed the ‘Best in Europe’ award for the fifth time in its category, which includes airports handling between 15 and 25 million passengers.

In addition to this prestigious award, the airport was also included in the ‘ACI World Director General’s Roll of Excellence’ by the International Airports Council (ACI). Only 10 airports worldwide received this honour in 2024.

This achievement marks the fifth time Alicante-Elche Airport has been named the best in Europe in its category, and it has now earned this title for three consecutive years.

A significant factor in this success is the development of its AI travel assistant, Oli. This chatbot, created by airport operator Aena,

helps passengers find flights and answer various queries.

Other innovations, such as the expansion of the duty-free shop with interactive elements, the ‘street art’ mural welcoming passengers, and the opening of the first Sensory Room for travellers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), have also contributed to improving the passenger experience. ACI World’s Director General, Justin Erbacci, praised the airport, saying, “In today’s rapidly evolving world, where passenger experiences are more important than ever, airports must continually push the boundaries of service to stay ahead.”

The Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Programme, which forms the foundation of these recognitions, focuses on improving the quality of services offered to travellers and airlines.

BEST AIRPORT: Has now earned the title for three consecutive years.

Clot shots

ELCHE has launched the seventh PhotoClot photography contest. The contest aims to showcase the Clot de Galvany Municipal Natural Park and is part of the events marking the 20th anniversary of its official designation.

Councillor José Antonio Román emphasised that this special anniversary contest seeks historical photos taken before the year 2000, capturing the park’s past. He encouraged the public to contribute

images that document how the area has changed over time, focusing on improvements made during 20 years.

The collected photographs will be used for an exhibition comparing past and present views of the park, demonstrating the impact of restoration efforts since 1996. The exhibition will travel to different locations, allowing visitors to see the transformation of Clot de Galvany over the years.

The deadline to par -

ticipate in the contest is June 30. Each participant can submit up to five photos via the Clot de Galvany website or social media. Contest rules can be found at elclot degalvany.es.

The winners will be announced on September 8, with cash prizes awarded: €625 for first place, €250 for second, and €100 for the third, which will be decided by public vote.

Historical photos.

Chatting in Torrevieja Rainy revival

TORREVIEJA’S mayor, Eduardo Dolón, attended the diploma ceremony at the Palacio de la Música for foreign residents who completed Spanish language courses. The courses, which ran for eight weeks aimed to help international residents improve their Spanish skills.

A total of 90 students were selected from 196 applicants and divided into groups of 15 based on their skill level, either beginner or intermediate. Each group received 32 hours of lessons, held three times a week for two hours per session.

Participants came from various countries, including Italy, France, Belgium, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, England, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, and Japan.

The courses focused on helping students communicate effectively in both daily life and professional settings. More courses are planned later this year to continue supporting the city’s international community.

THE rainfall recorded in March 2025 has provided a significant boost to the Segura basin, increasing the volume of water in reservoirs by 98 cubic hectometers (hm³), according to the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS).

From March 1 to 21, the average rainfall was 157.2 mm. The highest levels recorded were 172.4 mm in Pinar Hermoso (Mula River), 195.2 mm in the Almanzora basin, and 100.3 mm in

Cedaceros. However, the uneven distribution of rainfall has limited the rise in water levels in key reservoirs such as Fuensanta and El Cenajo.

Although the rainfall did not cause major disruptions to riverbeds, there were occasional overflows in the Albujón ravine and the Mula River. Some areas affected by these overflows lack well-defined channels due to previous human activity.

A significant boost to the Segura basin.

Image: Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura

Courses for foreign residents to learn Spanish.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja

BAD weather has forced German space startup Isar Aerospace to delay its historic Spectrum rocket launch from Norway’s Andoya Spaceport.

The Munich-based company confirmed that high winds scrubbed the test flight, which aimed to mark Europe’s first homegrown

Rocket delay

orbital rocket launch.

“The first test flight of Spectrum is scrubbed due to unfavourable winds … the team is working to determine a new launch window,” Isar Aerospace said on Monday March 24.

Spectrum, a two-stage rocket designed to carry satellites of up to one tonne, is part of Europe’s bid to carve out a larger share of the booming commercial space market.

Although this debut flight will carry no payload, it is critical for validating Spectrum’s systems ahead of future missions.

The delay highlights the challenges faced by European companies competing with established players like SpaceX and Russia’s Roscosmos.

Isar Aerospace has acknowledged that a failed maiden flight is a possibility but stresses that multiple launch attempts are factored into the development process.

The delay comes amid growing momentum in Europe’s space race, with Sweden, the UK, and other nations also preparing orbital launches to strengthen the region’s space capabilities.

Dog cruelty arrest

A WOMAN has been arrested in Alicante after admitting to throwing her two Yorkshire terriers off an eighth-floor balcony, reportedly because she was ‘fed up’ with walking them. The disturbing incident happened on Sunday March 23 in the Albufereta district, shocking both locals and animal welfare groups. Passers-by on Calle Sol Naciente alerted emergency services after witnessing the dogs fall.

Initially, they mistook the first impact for a toy before seeing additional objects hurled from the balcony - including a dog bed and a leash - followed by the second dog. Police were able to trace the owner using microchips implanted in the animals and located

the 53-year-old woman inside her nearby apartment. According to official reports, she confessed to police, stating she was “tired of always being the one to walk the dogs.” Her husband, who was present at the time, corroborated her statement. The woman was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, and the deceased animals were collected by the Alicante Animal Protection Society. Residents claim this isn’t an isolated case, reporting that other objects, and allegedly turtles, were also thrown from the same apartment in recent days. Police are now investigating the wider claims. The case has sparked public outrage, with social media users calling for tougher punishments for animal abuse.

Credit : Shutterstock, Anna Vasiljeva

A Yorkshire Terrier, similar to the two dogs tragically killed in the Alicante incident.

MY life never prepared me for April 1, 1997, the day I ﬁrst walked into the small apartment that then housed the local newspaper I had been sent to restructure and improve. It was there I met the formidable Linda Hall de González. She was sipping a glass of cava while typing at an astonishing speed. She glanced up, arched an eyebrow, and returned to her work, muttering something in Spanish that I knew wasn’t complimentary, even as an ignorant Guiri.

For the ﬁrst few days, we circled each other like two shecats, testing the waters. But later that week, she realised I was serious about overhauling the paper, regardless of the hours it would take. That led to a long meal of Spanish tapas, plenty of wine, and a friendship that has endured nearly three decades. From that moment, I knew Linda was someone I could rely on - and she never let me down.

Linda came to Benidorm as a pioneering tourist, fell in love with a local artist, Andres, and never looked back. She embraced Spanish culture and language, using her journalistic talents to write for various Spanish and English publications. One of her proudest accomplishments was the invaluable book ‘Expand Your Spanish’, a must-read even today.

Always abreast of the political landscape in Spain, Linda wasn’t afraid to voice her opinions. Her insight made her a regular on local TV and radio, making her one of the most recognised foreign journalists in the region.

Beyond her career, Linda and Andres devoted themselves to their daughter, Alicia. But Linda’s love extended beyond her family; she had a passion for animals, of-

ten skipping meals to ensure that no stray cat in her vicinity went hungry.

For years, Linda worked tirelessly for Euro Weekly News. As she entered her seventh decade, she remained one of the most dedicated members of the writing team, a walking encyclopedia of knowledge.

As she approached her eighth decade, she turned her focus toward the paper’s ﬁnancial and European sections - topics she didn’t particularly love, but ones she mastered. Her commitment to excellence made her an indispensable pillar of Euro Weekly News

Now, on March 27, 2025, Linda is packing away her pen and retiring. Will we miss her? Absolutely. Is she one of the company’s fundamental cornerstones? Without a doubt. Will we ever ﬁnd another Linda? Most deﬁnitely not.

So, instead of saying ‘adios’, we say ‘hasta luego’, knowing she’ll still be cycling the pathways of Valencia, embracing life with the same spirit. Tears will be shed, but more than anything, there will be gratitude - for who she is, what she has done, and what she has given to us all.

A Fond Farewell to Linda Hall de González: A Journalist, A Trailblazer, A Friend Thank you!

Linda Hall de González, you have written your own story on your terms - a force incredible, a woman unmatched.

Flooding and sinkhole in Jönköping

A MAJOR water main burst in central Jönköping on March 24, leading to extensive ooding, property damage, and the formation of a large sinkhole on Södra Strandgatan.

Thousands of households temporarily lost access to water as emergency services tackled the situation.

According to SVT Nyheter, the leak began just before lunchtime when one of the city’s largest water mains ruptured. “It’s one of our largest main pipes that has broken, so enormous amounts of water have owed out,” said Roger Rohdin, head of the water and sanitation department at Jönköping Municipality.

As a result, several thousand residents were left without water. The street Södra Strandgatan was closed to tra c, and Jönköping County’s pu-

blic buses had to be diverted.

Large amounts of water ooded several shops, restaurants, and homes along Södra Strandgatan. Fire crews and suction trucks worked throughout the afternoon to pump out the water from ooded interiors.

A sinkhole about 10 metres deep formed at the site, raising serious safety concerns. “It is a

heavy pipe that is broken and that is where the leak occurred and this large sinkhole appeared,” said Mikael Döbel, duty o cer at the local rescue service, speaking to Göteborgs-Posten.

The municipality conrmed that parts of Södra Strandgatan were now structurally compromised. Rohdin stated, “You can’t go there, there’s a risk of falling through.”

Buried millions

PORTUGAL’S central bank says millions of euros have been lost as a result of people burying cash or hiding it in unsafe places, with thousands of ruined banknotes flooding in each year for exchange.

Since 2014, the Bank of Portugal has replaced more than 317,000 damaged notes worth €13.8 million, many destroyed after being hidden underground.

Many in Portugal still prefer to stash cash at home, with common hiding spots including mattresses, safes, and even gardens, leading to millions in damaged notes recovered by the Bank of Portugal.

“Most notes are ruined by humidity,” explained José Luís Ferreira, who heads the bank’s cash operations. “Insects, moisture and time take a toll.” While burying money is common, other bizarre hiding spots include fireplaces, microwaves and even septic tanks. The surge is partly driven by a pandemic-era ha-

bit of hoarding cash, with 2024 seeing the highest figure in a decade: over 40,000 notes worth €1.7 million. Wildfires have also played a role. In 2018, after Portugal’s devastating 2017 fires, more than 32,000 notes were exchanged. One sawmill owner reportedly lost €40,000 when flames destroyed a safe. To qualify for a refund, over half of the note must be intact and verifiable. Ferreira warns that sophisticated forgeries sometimes sneak through, but advanced technology helps detect fakes. The Bank of Portugal continues to caution against storing cash at home, urging people to rethink old habits. “People still believe it’s safer underground,” Ferreira said, “but the risk is real.”

Overview of Jönköping.

NEWS Travel

Priego de Cordoba - A charming Andalucian town

DOWN in the south of Spain, Priego de Cordoba is a little gem of a town, full of character and natural beauty. With its whitewashed houses, winding streets, and breathtaking views of the Sierra Subbética mountains, it’s the kind of place where life moves at a slower, more relaxed pace. Whether you’re into history, architecture, or just want to soak up the laid-back atmosphere, Priego de Cordoba is deﬁnitely worth a visit.

A town with charm and history

There’s a reason people call Priego de Cordoba the ‘pearl of Andalucia’. Its charming streets and squares

with Hispavan Campers

invite you to sit, sip a coffee, and watch the world go by. One of the best spots to do just that is Plaza de la Constitución, the heart of local life. Wander through the town, and you’ll come across stunning Baroque-style buildings like the Church of La Asunción, with its impressive design. For the best view in town, head up to Priego de Cordoba Castle, where you can take in the beauty of the countryside.

Deep-rooted traditions

This isn’t just a pretty town - it’s a place with a rich past. The National Museum of Priego de Cordoba gives you a glimpse into its history, particularly its deep connection to olive oil production - some of the best in Spain. The surrounding hills are covered in endless olive groves, and if you’re curious, you can visit a local producer to see how the oil is made and, of course, taste it for yourself.

Flavours you won’t forget

Food in Priego de Cordoba is all about simple ingredients done right. One dish to try is ﬂamenquín - a crispy roll of ham and pork, usually served with fries. And no matter what you eat, chances are it’ll be prepared with the town’s famous olive oil, which adds a rich, smooth ﬂavour to everything.

SUMMARY

Weird, wild & wacky

BEFORE travelling for your summer holidays, it’s important to know that each country and city has its own laws.

Some rules might be di erent from what you’re used to, and things that are ne at home might cause trouble in other places. Breaking these rules could result in nes or worse, even if the law seems unusual.

For example, in Venice, feeding pigeons in St Mark’s Square has been illegal since 2008 to protect buildings from damage. Tourists could face nes between €25 and €500 for feeding the birds.

In Germany, running out of petrol on the Autobahn can lead to a ne. It’s illegal to stop or slow down unnecessarily on certain roads, and running out of fuel is not an acceptable excuse.

In Sweden, drivers must have their

headlights on at all times, even during the day, to ensure better visibility, especially in winter.

In Spain, particularly in Benidorm and Tenerife, building large sandcastles is illegal to keep the beaches natural. You could be ned £130 for making big sand structures.

In Switzerland, particularly in the Alps, naked hiking is banned in some areas. The law was introduced in 2009 after locals complained about nudist hikers. While public nudity isn’t entirely illegal, authorities can ne those hiking without clothes.

In Milan, Italy, there’s an old law from the Austro-Hungarian empire that supposedly makes it a crime to frown, except at funerals or hospitals. Though it’s not enforced today, it’s still something to consider.

Eggstortionate

THE cost of a dozen medium-sized eggs has jumped 25 per cent in just two weeks, with category M eggs - typically the cheapest - rising from €2.60 to more than €3.25 in Spanish supermarkets. This sudden spike, follows price hikes in olive oil, sugar, coee, and chocolate, hitting a dietary staple known for stable pricing across stores.

The increase varies by type: basic size M and free-range eggs have risen more sharply than free-range chicken or organic varieties, though all categories are a ected. In contrast, size L eggs, previously €2.80, have also climbed but less dramatically.

Multiple factors drive this surge. In the US, avian in uenza outbreaks have led to the slaughter of millions of chickens, cutting supply and boosting egg exports from countries like Spain. This reduces local stock, pushing pri-

ces up. In Europe, fears of bird u spreading - though Spain remains una ectedhave sparked stricter controls and higher production costs. Social media amplifying these concerns has fuelled a collective panic, further pressuring markets. Consumers can do little but wait it out. Experts suggest staying calm, riding out the storm, noting that global trade shifts, like the potential US tari s on luxury goods, might o set costs elsewhere.

No sandcastles on the beach.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Tea, bets & charity

THE Club Quesada proudly presents An Afternoon at the Races on Friday, April 11. Join in the fun from 3pm till 6pm.

Enjoy a classic afternoon tea for two for just €15.

Don’t miss out, gather your friends, place your bets, and have fun all whilst supporting DEBRA charity.

For more details or to reserve your spot, visit theclubquesada.es, call (+34) 966 717 028, or stop by The Club at Calle Toledo, 24, 03170 Ciudad Quesada, Alicante.

DEBRA stands in solidarity with those facing the challenges of Butterﬂy Skin or Epidermolysis Bullosa,

currently incurable genetic

a rare and currently incurable genetic condition.

Royal rhapsody

Skin endure daily struggles, spending applying

People with Butterﬂy Skin endure daily struggles, spending hours on end applying bandages to protect their delicate skin.

The absence of ‘skin glue’ in their bodies means these individuals require constant care and attention.

Despite its rarity, this condition affects hundreds of people in Spain alone, with more than 500 individuals currently battling this disease.

For more information about DEBRA and how you can support their cause, visit their charity shop located at Avenida del Mar, Local nº2, Ciudad Quesada, 03170 Rojales or give them a call on (+34) 966 718 134.

LAKEVIEW is excited to announce that KEENG, the best Queen tribute band in Spain, will be performing Queen’s greatest hits on Friday, March 28.

Queen continues to captivate audiences worldwide, selling millions of albums for over 35 years.

KEENG will showcase all of Queen’s iconic songs, from their debut in 1973 to their ﬁnal album.

Expect to hear hits like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Love of My Life’, ‘We Are the Champions’, ‘We Will Rock You’, and many more. Ticket options are: the show-only option for €12.50 and the meal and show option for €18.50.

Dinner will be served at 6pm followed by the show at 8pm.

The meal includes a choice of Pork Chop with Roast Potatoes, Steamed Vegetables, and Meat Gravy, Hunter’s Chicken with Roast Potatoes, Steamed Vegetables, and BBQ Sauce, or Vegetable Lasagne served with Salad and Coleslaw.

To book your table and pre-order your meal,

contact the bar. A 50 per cent deposit is required at the time of booking for the meal and show, while show-only tickets must be paid in full. Call (+34) 711 043 763 to reserve your spot. Check out their Facebook page: lakeviewbarrestaurant for more details.

Place your bets.

Image: KEENG / Facebook Tribute band.

Image: Vladimir Hodac / Shutterstock.com

AFTERNOON TEAS HOME-MAD E CAKES SAVOURIES & SA NDWICHES

Open Tuesday to Saturday.

Closed Sunday and Monday

BUTTERFLIES

Bleu-tiful bites

Avd La Paz 63, Jacarilla, Alicante 03310 960 201 577

KNOWN for its blend of classic and modern cuisine, the restaurant offers daily menus, special menus, and a tasting menu, along with a wine-tasting package.

Le Bleu proudly states, “We have been fusing classic and contemporary styles in our recipes to offer you unique and delicious flavours.” The restaurant takes great pride in its menu, explaining, “Appetisers, salads, seafood, rice dishes and paellas, fish, meat, and desserts are the sections into which our extensive and complete menu is divided. Each dish can be paired with one of the wines from our own wine cellar. It’s extensive and diverse, so you can find the one that best suits your needs.”

In 2021, Le Bleu won the ‘Best Restaurant in Guardamar’ award from the renowned platform Restaurant Guru. After visiting,

the platform described the restaurant, stating, “All diners revere the exquisite international cuisine at Restaurante Le Bleu.”

Adding: “Ordering their well-crafted grilled octopus, their unique garlic shrimp, or their tender beef

is what most customers recommend. This place offers a well-prepared parfait, a home-made creamy tart, and a generous fruit cake.”

Le Bleu is open Tuesday to Thursday from 5.00pm to 11.00pm, Friday and Saturday from 1.00pm to

11.00pm, and Sunday from 1.00pm to 5.30pm. The restaurant is located at Carrer Azorín, 22, 03140 Guardamar del Segura, Alicante. For reservations, call (+34) 966 725 482 or email: reservas@ lebleurestaurante.es.

Tenor triumph

TRE AMICI will perform live at Fairways Restaurant in Villamartin Plaza on Thursday, April 3. The event starts at 7.00pm and guarantees a night of timeless classics with three fabulous tenors who gained recognition as contestants on the UK’s X Factor in 2018.

Tre Amici are a vocal trio known for their renditions of opera, pop, and film scores. Their repertoire includes everything from The Lion King to Snow Patrol and Pavarotti.

Tickets are priced at €49.95 per person and include a three-course set menu. For this event, all tickets and table reservations must be booked through the website rewindspain. es and not the venue itself.

Diners can begin their meal with a choice of cream of leek and potato soup served with

and

accompanied by caramelised onion chutney.

For the main course, options include a BBQ full rack of ribs served with French fries and coleslaw, chicken Singapore with rice, cod in saffron sauce with new potatoes, pumpkin-filled ravioli in a mushroom sauce, or a 12oz entrecôte with grilled tomato and mashed potatoes (supplement of €8).

To finish, guests can indulge in a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, lemon sorbet with a red fruit coulis, or a salted caramel New York cheesecake.

Fairways Restaurant, Villamartin Plaza, Avenida de las Brisas 6, Orihuela Costa.

crusty bread, Italian bruschetta pomodoro, caramelised goat’s cheese, or duck, mushroom,

red wine pâté

Putting the finishes touches to a mouth-watering dish.

Image: Le Bleu

Tre Amici will be performing live.

Image: Rewind

40-year adoption ban lifted

ITALY’S Constitutional Court has struck down a decades-old ban preventing single Italians from adopting children internationally, opening a new chapter in the country’s adoption laws. The landmark decision ends a rule dating back more than 40 years, which allowed only married couples to adopt from abroad.

Judges ruled that excluding singles from the process could harm children by denying them the chance to grow up in a ‘stable and harmonious family environment’. The verdict comes as international adoptions in Italy decline sharply.

The national adoption commission reports a 5.6 per cent drop in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, and a 14.3 per cent decrease since 2022.

While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government opposed the change, Italy’s centre-left hailed the ruling as historic. Democratic Party lawmaker Alessandro Zan celebrated it as a ‘turning point’, saying it places children’s rights and personal freedoms at the heart of adoption law. “For too long, singles - and especially LGBTQ+ Italians - have been excluded,” Zan said.

“Now Parliament must act to remove the remaining ideological obstacles.” The ruling takes effect immediately, allowing single Italians to begin adoption proceedings abroad without the need for marriage. The decision comes amid heated debates on family rights in Italy. Just months ago, Meloni’s government criminalised surrogacy abroad, a move widely seen as targeting same-sex couples.

Italy’s Constitutional Court has ruled in favour of allowing single people to adopt foreign children, overturning a decades-old law.

Ryanair rules

RYANAIR will introduce stricter travel rules this winter as part of a shake-up affecting all passengers from November 5, 2025. The airline has confirmed that paper tickets will be scrapped in favour of a fully digital boarding pass system aimed at streamlining check-ins and speeding up boarding.

Ryanair passengers will face stricter baggage and check-in rules from November 2025 as the airline updates its travel policies.

missing their original booking.

Alcohol limits

PORTUGAL is weighing stricter drink-driving laws as Spain pushes forward with plans to cut its blood alcohol limit.

Spanish lawmakers have approved a proposal to lower the limit for all dri vers to 0.2 grams per litre, scrapping the current thres holds of 0.5 grams for most motorists and 0.3 grams for professional drivers such as lorry and bus operators.

The most significant change involves hand luggage. The maximum size for free cabin bags will now be capped at 40 x 20 x 25 cm. Bags exceeding this limit will incur a steeper fine of €70, up from the previous €60. Travellers requiring additional bags will now have to purchase Priority Boarding, with fees varying depending on the route and booking time. Ryanair will also introduce a €100 penalty for passengers who arrive at the check-in desk less than 40 minutes before departure.

The same fine applies to travellers attempting to catch a later flight after

Although rebooking will still be possible up to one hour after departure, passengers will face additional charges.

The airline is encouraging travellers to check luggage dimensions carefully and arrive early to avoid these fines.

Experts also advise passengers to pack essential medication in their hand luggage and review airline policies on carrying medicines. These updates mark Ryanair’s latest move to tighten its baggage rules while maintaining its reputation for low-cost fares.

Backed by Spain’s ruling Socialist Party, the bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle with 177 votes in favour. Vox voted against, while the Popular Party abstained. The measure will now head to the committee stage for further discussion and potential amendments, but no date has been set for when the new limit could take effect.

The draft law would also ban the sharing of police checkpoint locations on social media platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram,

Spain is moving to tighten drink-driving laws and Portugal is considering similar reforms.

targeting what authorities describe as ‘organised groups’ who undermine drink-driving controls by warning others about roadside checks. In Portugal, Joana Teixeira, president of the Portuguese Society of Alcoholism, has called Spain’s proposal a potential model for Lisbon. “Redu-

cing the limit to 0.2 grams would significantly impact driver awareness and safety,” she told local press. Although no official bill has been introduced in Portugal, the debate is gaining momentum, with campaigners urging lawmakers to consider following Spain’s lead to improve road safety.

Credit : Shutterstock, Dan Kosmayer

THE European Commission is currently scrutinising the Star Stable online game, created by Swedish company Star Stable Entertainment

The game defines itself as ‘a magical online world full of horses, friendship, mystery and adventure’ but players are at an advantage if they spend real money to acquire ‘star coin’ currency.

Consumer watchdog Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC Network) is probing the game’s alleged unfair practices, following a complaint from the Swedish Consumers’ Association.

These violated European Union consumer protection laws, the association said, citing pressure to buy through advertisements, lack of transparency in transactions, and using influencers to promote products to children.

After Star Stable Entertainment was asked to provide information regarding the game, the CPC Network’s assessment of

Play the game

the company’s answers identified the same practices cited by the Swedish Consumers’ Association.

The company must now send a written reply addressing the issues highlighted by the CPC Network and setting out proposals for remedying shortcomings.

On March 21, the CPC Network, coordinated by the European Commission, published guidelines directed at promoting transparency and fairness in the online gaming in-

Photo credit : CC/Superbass

dustry’s use of virtual currencies. The regulations highlighted the need to respect consumer vulnerabilities, particularly those of children.

“Children spend a lot of time online, gaming and interacting on social media,” said Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

“It is crucial to ensure a safe online environment for consumers, especially children.”

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Brussels probes children’s online games.

Nestlé downsizing

NESTLÉ has announced a significant downsizing of its operations in Germany, with plans to close its Neuss plant by mid-2026 and sell its Conow facility in early 2026.

The downsizing will impact approximately 225 employees and comes as Nestlé faces what it calls ‘overcapacity’ and increasing ‘price sensitivity’ among consumers.

The Neuss plant, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, currently employs around 145 people and produces Thomy-branded products such as oil, mayonnaise, and mustard.

“This was a difficult decision, which we made after intensive examination and consideration of the overall situation,” said Fabrice Johan, chief technology officer for Nestlé in Germany. “Now it’s time to take responsibility for the employees on site and create pros-

pects for them.”

Nestlé plans to relocate production of Thomy oils to external partners elsewhere in Europe. Glass and plastic bottle production will also be shifted to other European sites. However, tube production for mayonnaise and mustard will be moved to the Lüdinghausen site, where 30 new jobs will be created.

Despite the downsizing, the company says nearly 80 per cent of Thomy products will continue to be made in Germany. The Conow facility in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which employs around 80 people, is also being divested. The plant manufactures items for Maggi and Garden Gourmet. According to Reuters, Nestlé is in ‘intensive negotiations’ with an unnamed German company to sell the plant, including the current workforce.

London investment

NORWAY’S Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, has acquired a 25 per cent stake in London’s Covent Garden estate for £570 million (€680 million).

Currently managing nearly €184 trillion in assets and owning 1.5 per cent of globally listed companies, NBIM has just partnered with Shaftesbury Capital, the London district’s landlord, for the deal, which values the estate at €3.22 billion.

Covent Garden, a hip, thronging hub of shopping, dining, and culture, spans shops, offices, and residential spaces, with a quarter of its land set aside for the latter two.

Famous for landmarks like Seven Dials and Neal’s Yard, it hosts brands such as Apple, Chanel, and newcomers like Diptyque and Charlotte Til-

bury. The investment tags onto a significant surge in luxury retail demand, which has recently hit record levels over the past few years, according to UK Sotheby’s International Realty.

Historically, Covent Garden was a fruit and vegetable market following London’s 1666 fire, but now it anchors the West End and opera scene, though it lost nearly a quarter of its value during the Covid-19 pandemic. Recovery has since fuelled Shaftesbury’s growth in the prime property market. NBIM’s Jayesh Patel, head of UK real estate, called Covent Garden a ‘world-renowned retail, leisure, and cultural destination’, which complements the fund’s West End holdings.

Nestlé, Frankfurt.

Credit: Shutterstock, Markus Mainka

London’s perennially hip Covent Garden.

Outrage in Dublin

A STUDENT in Dublin has launched a campaign to protect the famous Molly Malone statue, amid growing outrage over tourists groping the landmark’s breasts.

Tilly Cripwell, a 23-yearold student and busker at Trinity College, has called out what she describes as “disgusting behaviour” by visitors, especially stag parties. Years of tourists fondling the statue’s chest have discoloured the bronze, with the breasts now visibly shinier than the rest of the sculpture.

“It triggered me so much, I just had to put a stop to it,” said Cripwell, who argues that the statue is being reduced to a joke and sends a poor message to young people.

Dublin City Council has con rmed it is reviewing a plan to raise the statue on a higher plinth and restore the original patina. The council is also urging

tourist companies to stop encouraging the practice.

Locally known as ‘the tart with the cart’, Molly Malone has stood in Dublin since 1988, symbolising the city’s working-class history. However, the tradition of rubbing the statue’s breasts for good luck - quietly endorsed by some tour guides - has drawn sharp criticism.

“Male statues are placed high up and treated with respect,” Cripwell noted. “But Molly is within reach, and people take liberties.” Some tour operators have apologised after being accused of fuelling the myth, but the controversial behaviour continues. The council is expected to present its full report on potential changes next month.

Credit : Shutterstock, Ana Candida

The Molly Malone statue in Dublin, a popular tourist attraction now at the centre of a debate over visitor behaviour and preservation.

Ryanair gender case

A NON-BINARY traveller is suing Ryanair for £4,200 after the airline failed to offer a gender-neutral title during a flight booking. The passenger, who was booking a trip from Berlin to Gran Canaria in October 2021, claims the absence of an ‘Mx’ option left them without a title that reflects their identity. With only ‘Herr’, ‘Frau’, or ‘Fräulein’ available, the traveller filed a legal complaint in Germany after Ryanair refused to settle the matter privately.

The case is now heading to Berlin’s state court, where the claimant is also demanding Ryanair modernise its booking system to include gender-neutral options. In recent years, several major airlines have taken steps towards greater inclusivity. Following recommendations from the International

Air Transport Association in 2019, United Airlines became the first US airline to introduce non-binary booking options. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and Air New Zealand have since followed suit, allowing customers to select titles like ‘Mx’ and gender markers such as ‘X’ or ‘U’. The shift has extended beyond booking forms. Airlines including Lufthansa now avoid gender-specific greetings like ‘ladies and gentlemen’, opting for inclusive alternatives such as ‘dear guests’ to ensure all passengers feel welcome. Ryanair, however, has yet to implement similar changes, despite offering a wide array of titles ranging from ‘Mr’ to ‘Viscount’. The outcome of the legal challenge could push the budget carrier to align with industry trends.

Greek bears awake

SPRING has officially arrived in northern Greece as the brown bears at Arcturos Bear Sanctuary emerge from hibernation. Located in the snowy forests of Nymfeo, the sanctuary is once again open to visitors eager to watch the bears shake off the winter chill.

Among the first to venture out, Patrick and Louiza were seen rolling in the snow, while Duke happily splashed in his pool after months of dormancy. George took to the trees to scout his surroundings, while Sandy, ever the late riser, lingered in her den. Mira, meanwhile, appeared groggy, still adjusting to the new season.

The sanctuary, operated by Arcturos since 1992, is more than just a haven for rescued bears. It provides permanent refuge for animals that cannot be reintroduced

into the wild, often due to injury or past captivity. Beyond caring for its furry residents, Arcturos also focuses on conservation, habitat protection, and educating the public about Greece’s endangered wildlife, including wolves and lynxes.

Located in Florina, one of Greece’s coldest areas, the sanctuary often endures temperatures as

low as -10°C, with past records hitting -29°C. Around 450 wild brown bears roam Greece’s Pindos and Rhodope mountain ranges, but sightings in places like Olympus and Nafpaktia suggest their habitat is expanding.

For now, visitors to Nymfeo can witness the joy of these majestic animals welcoming spring.

One of the brown bears at Arcturos Sanctuary enjoying the first rays of spring after waking from hibernation.

Credit Shutterstock, Fanouria

Ryanair faces a lawsuit after a non-binary traveller claims the airline failed to offer a gender-neutral title during booking.

Credit Shutterstock, Mounir Taha

Worth it

GERMANY IRELAND

A REVIEW of 80,000 international students by the Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) found they had paid approximately €15.5 billion in taxes and fees by the time they graduated. This more than compensated for the money they cost the state, DAAD said, adding that the students were “an economic asset.”

Cutting costs

DEUTSCHE BANK, Germany’s largest lender, will axe approximately 2,000 jobs and close several of its high street branches, chief executive Christian Sewing announced on March 19. “Where we have to turn around the ship from a proﬁtability point of view is clearly in retail personal banking,” Sewing said.

PORTUGAL

To the brim

AFTER the Algarve’s recent heavy rains, water is being released from the Beliche and Odeleite dams as they reach historically high capacity. The Castro Marim authorities said the carefully-controlled discharges would be timed to coincide with low tide to ensure the stability of the Guadiana as it reached the sea.

Asterix visit

THE latest Asterix album, which is due to be published next October, will be called Asterix in Lusitania. The Gallic warrior, assisted by sidekick Obelix, visits Portugal at the request of Bitovamess and Undaduress who want help in expelling the Romans who are besieging their part of the Iberian Peninsula.

NORWAY

Travel plans

AS people start thinking about summer holidays, applications to obtain or renew passports have shot up. On March 17 regional passport ofﬁcial Torill Sorte revealed that in some localities all appointments up to June were taken but reassured applicants by explaining that new slots were released on Friday each week.

Sea change

STALE ULRIKSEN, a researcher at the Norwegian Defence University College pointed out that China now supplies 45 per cent of Norway’s foreign-built ships and was a potential security risk to a country that was so dependent on the sea. “We have to take this seriously,” he warned the Dagens Næringsliv newspaper.

EURO PRESS

Dearer dairy

IRELAND’S dairy cows yield more than eight billion litres of milk each year, but the country’s dairy farmers said they can no longer cope with the major increase in their production costs.

They warned that consumers would need to get used to the idea that milk, cheese and butter were going to cost more.

FRANCE DENMARK

Special day

Top 40

No breeze

Photo credit: Pixabay/Christina and Peter

SALES for France’s 40 leading companies listed on the CAC 40 stock market index totalled €1.6 trillion in 2024, an increase of almost 50 per cent compared with 10 years ago. Its current operating margin has risen from an average 9.3 per cent between 2015 and 2019 to 13.1 per cent in 2023, auditors EY said.

Less meat

DAIRY PRODUCTS: Rising farmers’ costs mean they will cost more.

PRINCESS ISABELLA celebrates her 18th birthday on April 21 and Denmark’s young will have the opportunity of taking part in a draw entitling them to attend special events in Copenhagen and Aarhus. Invitations to participate in the lottery will be sent to 11,006 over-17s in Aarhus and 1,000 in Copenhagen.

PLANS to install an offshore windfarm in the North Sea have fallen through after the Danish government put the project out to tender without receiving a single bid. Analysts engaged by the Energy Agency concluded that investors were put off by the huge costs involved and uncertainty surrounding future revenues.

ITALY

Babe in arms

TURIN police arrested four Moroccans who tried to enter Italy with a newborn baby hidden in a shopping bag. The child, whose mother allegedly handed her over to be sold, had health problems owing to the way she had been carried, but was immediately admitted to hospital where she since recovered in hospital.

Cricket test

MONTECASSIANO-based Nutrinsesct, which breeds crickets for transformation into a flour that is used for pet food, is giving classes on how to farm the insects. Nutrisect’s chief executive Jose Francesco Cianni explained that the ﬁrm wished to pass on its expertise with the aim of creating 100 farms across Italy.

THE third edition of the Climate Action Network (RAC) biennial report on meat consumption showed that 53 per cent of respondents had eaten less over the last three years. The RAC also found that their motives included the need to economise, health, the environment and concerns for animal welfare.

FINLAND SWEDEN

Cruel nature

ROUGHLY 60 per cent of the reindeer calves belonging to two Sami communities in northern Sweden died following late snow which prevented herds from being moved to safer forest areas. Instead, they remained in the mountains where they were less protected from predators, including rapacious golden eagles.

No thanks

BRAND researchers from Lund University have established that approximately one in ﬁve Swedes aged between 18 and 64 are choosing not to buy US products. Twenty per cent of those who had bought Coca Cola in the last 12 months said they would boycott the drink in favour of a Swedish or European alternative.

NETHERLANDS

Not peachy

THE local council in Urk decided to use peach stones to ﬁll the sandpit at a children’s playground, believing that this would be a suitable and sustainable alternative. Instead the stones had to be removed because they were strewn all over the play area and the children admitted using them to pelt each other.

Cabinet doubts

LESS than nine months after the creation of the Netherlands’ four-party coalition, only one in six voters is happy with the Cabinet, a RTL Nieuws poll found. Right-wing-liberal VVD party supporters were the most critical and 50 per cent said they wanted an alliance with the socialist opposition party next time round.

Gender gap

FINNISH males with higher education qualiﬁcations who return after working abroad earn better salaries than peers who never leave the country, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health said. This advantage did not extend to women, who faced far more challenges when re-entering the employment market.

Take it back

FINNS returned 2.3 billion bottles and drinks cans in 2024, which was 130 million more than in 2023 and conﬁrmed the bottle-return system as one of the most effective in the world. A total of 1.5 billion aluminium cans were handed in last year as well as 700 million plastic bottles and 130 million glass bottles.

BELGIUM

Pet saviours

GHENT UNIVERSITY is looking for the owners of pets who discovered that they were ill or pregnant thanks to the behaviour of their cat, dog or horse. Researchers want to analyse their stories to establish whether animals who are close to humans can in fact sense when something is wrong with them.

Sewer clue

THE European Drugs Agency (EDA) said that analyses of the wastewater of 68.8 million people living in 128 European cities over three months last year showed that Antwerp had the highest concentration of cocaine. Worldwide, Antwerp was ranked ﬁfth for cocaine after several cities in South America.

Your VOICE

Many buyers are still drawn to the brand, despite the issues.

If you had the money, would you buy a Tesla?

TESLA is currently facing some serious challenges. Elon Musk, the man behind the brand, has been under fire recently for his lack of focus on Tesla due to his other projects and political engagements, and investors are getting frustrated.

Musk’s controversial opinions, including his support of far-right movements in Europe, have also made it harder for customers to separate the product from the man, which can be seen in the recent drop in Tesla’s stock price and in the rise of sales of bumper stickers that say, ‘I bought this before Elon went crazy’.

Despite all these issues, Tesla still has a lot of appeal. Many buyers are still drawn to the brand for its innovative cars, safety features, and the environmentally friendly appeal of driving an EV. So, with all this uncertainty around the company and its CEO, would you still consider buying a Tesla?

John Trueman voices a strong opinion, “Bankrupt him!”

Emma Monks raises concerns, noting that, apart from “the brand toxicity,” there are significant safety issues: “Tesla models are topping research studies globally (including the US) for being the faultiest cars on the market... There are any number of good, and cheaper, EVs to choose from without having to resort to a Swastikar.”

Angela Edgley, meanwhile, questions the environmental impact, saying, “No. Can’t see how using an electric car can ‘save the planet’. Plus, although difficult living in Spain, we are doing our best to boycott anything ‘US’.”

Bor Dinjo asserts, “It’s not a question of money; it’s a question of insanity - only mentally disabled would buy any EV no matter what.” Colin Wheeler adds, “I wouldn’t have an electric car as a gift!”

On the other side of the debate, Marc Ireland is a strong advocate, stating, “Yup, always. Fantastic car. Best EV around. Will buy another soon.”

David Cooke has a more political angle, writing, “Yes... Just to piss off the lefties!”

Meanwhile, Brian Clarke has his own reasons for not purchasing a Tesla: “Even if Elon wasn’t such an obnoxious character, I still wouldn’t buy one. I simply don’t like the ride...”

In conclusion, while some are still in favour of buying a Tesla, the overwhelming majority say they would not. For some the issue lies with Musk, while for others, the reluctance stems from disinterest in EVs. It seems that, despite Tesla’s innovative technology, many remain unconvinced about the brand and the shift to EVs.

Credit: Shutterstock / Tricky_Shark

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Ikea opening

AFTER an 18-month delay, Ikea announced that its centre in London’s Oxford Street opens on May 1. The furniture and household goods retailer will occupy three floors of the former Topshop flagship store featuring showrooms and one-to-one design consultations as well as a Swedish deli with seating for 130.

In safe hands

CRITERIACAIXA named former vice-president and Economy minister Elena Salgado as its representative on the board of French company, Veolia. The Caixa Foundation’s holding company recently paid approximately €1 bn for a 5.5 per cent stake in the group which also owns Spanish water utility, Grupo Agbar.

Takeover perk

NATIONWIDE paid a surprise £50 (€59.62) bonus to 12 million members who had a savings account, current account or mortgage at end September 2024. Debbie Crosbie, the building society’s chief executive, said the payment was recognition of the successful £2.9bn (€3.4 bn) Virgin Money takeover.

Simple sums

COCA COLA’S Spanish executive vice-president Manuel Arroyo received $13.08 million (€12m) in 2024, making him second-highest paid after James Quincey, chief executive and chairman who received $28m (€25.7m). Arroyo also owns 848,310 Coca Cola shares including 650,554 stock options.

Widening scope

ASTRAZENECA is paying £773 million (€921.698 million) for EsoBiotec, a privately-held Belgian company specialising in cancer immunotherapies. This was the latest in a series of acquisitions byAstraZeneca, valued at £184 billion (€219.4 billion) and the UK’s largest listed company, which continues to expand globally.

STAT OF WEEK

€100 billion

in assets for Berlin-based online bank Trade Republic, which operates throughout Europe, received Bank of Spain authorisation to open a branch with an international bank account number (IBAN).

Santander wields the axe

Linda Hall

SANTANDER UK is closing 95 of its 444 branches, the Spanish multinational announced on March 19.

The move will affect 750 employees although the bank announced in January that it had no plans for permanent closures during 2025.

Following closures beginning in June, Santander will have 290 full-service branches with another 18 becoming ‘counter-free’ and 36 reducing their opening hours.

There will also be five Work Cafe hubs with co-working space, super-rapid internet and facilities for events that the bank is launching globally.

“Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision,” a Santander spokesperson said. “We spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers.”

Santander UK, which posted a

THE National High Court in Madrid ruled in favour of Spanish companies claiming more than €100 million in tax breaks after investing in Hollywood productions.

38 per cent reduction in pre-tax profits of £1.33 billion (€1.6 billion) for 2024, scotched rumours in January that the bank was planning to leave Britain.

“We love the UK,” chairwoman Ana Botin declared at the time. “It’s a co-market and will remain a co-market for Santander. Full stop.”

But in a Bloomberg TV interview on March 18, Botin said the bank

was in a position to be able to “shift resources away” from lower-performing units and did not need to sell them.

Santander would prioritise the US and Latin America, she continued. “We continue to have a big business in Europe, we see a lot of potential over the next few years in Europe. But our focus will continue to be more on the Americas.”

Hollywood defeats Hacienda

Ten years ago, attracted by tax incentives, Banco Santander, Bankinter, Mediaset, MasMovil, Air Europa, and Tous Jewellers amongst others put money into Economic Interest Groups (IEAs) led by big American companies and Spanish producers. Films financed this way

included Fast and Furious VI, where Spanish bac-

On the up City float

JAMES DAUNT, managing director of Waterstones, recently raised hopes of a City listing for the UK bookshop chain.

Talking to the media, Daunt, who is the founder of Daunt books and chief executive of the US bookseller Barnes & Noble, said he believed London would be a good location for a Waterstones float. Private equity firm Elliott acquired Waterstones for an undisclosed sum in 2018 but, as Daunt pointed out, “at some point in the near future, it will look to cash in its chips.”

SPAIN’S two biggest retailers, Inditex and Mercadona, have continued to swell their earnings from investments.

By the end of 2024, when both posted record sales and profits, they had made the most of their enviable liquidity by taking advantage of high interest rates.

The Zara-owner’s cash flow was its lowest since 2011 as it stepped up investments that earned the company €442 million in 2024, an increase of 16.3 per cent on 2023. Mercadona’s investment income grew by 90 per cent to €180.5 million.

Compared with 2021 when interest rates were still negative, Inditex’s earnings from its investments were 111 times higher, while those of Mercadona had multiplied by 164.

A £225 MILLION (€268.3 million) grant could convert Grangemouth into a plant processing pine timber into biofuel, chemicals or cosmetics. Scotland’s only remaining oil refinery will be shut down this summer by owners who include Sir Jim Ratcliffe, bringing with it the loss of 500 direct jobs and 2,500 jobs in related industries.

The UK government pledged earlier that it would allocate £200 million (€238.4 million) to finding a new, low-carbon use for the plant, with the Scottish government providing another £25 million (€29.8 million).

kers reclaimed more than €63 million, and Ridley Scott’s Exodus, filmed in Tabernas (Almeria) which has asked for at least €34 million.

By 2017, Spain’s Tax Authority decided the IEAs involved were not exclusively aimed at film production and eventually barred investing companies from putting in for rebates.

Slow but sure

GALICIA-BASED fashion and accessories company Bimba y Lola, whose fiscal year concluded on February 28, posted a €234 million turnover for 2024

This returned the company to its pre-pandemic figures and was also the first time that the company outstripped its 2019 sales.

A company statement referred to a ‘positive business evolution’ both nationally and internationally but although 2024 set a record, Bimba y Lola has reported comparatively modest growth over the past three years, analysts said.

Sales grew by 2.5 per cent in 2022, dipping to 2.25 per cent in 2024, picking up to 3 per cent last year.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP (IAG) is seeking €1 billion in financing for 26 new aeroplanes in 2025.

This will also help to meet some of the cost of 19 aircraft that the Madrid-registered group, which owns British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, acquired last year. The new fleet includes 10 Airbus A321 XLR aircraft plus two wide-fuselage planes, all of which will cover long-haul flights.

In all, IAG will spend €11.4 billion on 171 new planes between now and 2029.

THAMES WATER avoided temporary nationalisation and may use a £3 billion (€3.6 billion) loan to keep afloat in coming months.

The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Thames Water, dismissing a challenge by Lib Dem MP, Charlie Maynard and a group of Thames Water creditors. The company has debts of £19 billion (€22.6 billion) and said that without the loan it would run out of cash by March 24.

RIDLEY SCOTT: Spanish companies invested in 2014 film, Exodus.

Photo credit: CC/Gage Skidmore

SANTANDER UK: Plans to close 95 of bank’s 444 branches.

3I Group 3.750,00 3.759,00 3.675,00 645,09K

Group 2.946,0 2.952,0 2.915,0 164,75K Airtel Africa 160,80 161,30 159,30 852,75K

American 2.289,5 2.305,5 2.265,5 1,03M

British Foods 1.918,5 1.925,0 1.900,5 549,68K

791,66K

295,35 301,85 294,20 14,23M

Redrow 422,08 428,00 420,40 1,08M

Beazley 865,50 866,00 854,50 551,54K Berkeley 3.644,0 3.654,0 3.616,0 107,77K BP 447,60 448,95 445,10 11,99M

163,57 164,45 161,30 5,2M

2.976,0 2.980,0 2.942,0 256,94K

Entertainment 18.490,0 18.580,0 18.330,0 29,19K

642,50 647,50 636,50 71,25K

928,50 929,50 915,50 193,84K

Inditex pays

EXECUTIVES working for Inditex all benefited from the fashion chain’s good results, starting with chief executive Oscar Garcia Maceiras who received €11.2 million last year. The group’s second echelon executives also did well, earning an average annual wage of €5 million in 2024.

Big guns

DEFENCE group Babcock International joined the FTSE 100 index on March 24 following a 50 per cent increase in its share price this year. The company, which maintains Britain’s nuclear submarines, is now valued at £3.8 billion (€4.5 billion).

Merger in the offing

ACCORDING to the UK media, plans for a merger between ITV and the All3Media production company are making progress.

The transaction revealed by the Daily Mail is said to be ‘far from certain’, but if it were to go ahead, both parties would create a new company and float it on the London Stock Exchange.

Nevertheless, the first hints of a possible ITV-All3Media deal were heard in January when Reuters quoted two people ‘with

Call to arms

SIX companies will be vying for Spain’s defence and arms contracts as the government ups its spending on defence.

Airbus, Indra, Navantia, Santa Barbara, ITP Areo and Italy’s SAPA Group already account for 80 per cent of spending, ending 2023 with consolidated revenues of €13.9 billion between them.

According to the company’s calculations, this should increase annually to €4

billion as Spain commits to increasing its Nato contributions to 2 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (PIB) by 2029.

These six are the only companies capable of absorbing Spain’s defence spending, which will increase from the present €17.5 billion per year – 1.32 per cent of the PIB – to more than €36.5 billion.

knowledge of the situation.’

The merger would create one of Europe’s largest production groups, with revenues of approximately £3.176 billion (€3.8 billion) based on the companies’ 2023 figures.

Two years ago, ITV had considered buying All3Media for £1 billion (€1.9 billion) but was outbid by Emirati-backed RedBird IMI’s £1.15 billion (€1.4 billion) offer.

Carolyn McCall, ITV’s chief executive, has since been talking to the owners of London-based All3Media. Headed by former CNN president Jeff Zucker, it is behind popular series including The Traitors, Call the Midwife and Gogglebox.

Meanwhile, recent contacts have progressed ‘to a very detailed level’ the Daily Mail’s sources said.

ITV shares rose 1.1 per cent to 77.83 (€9.26) on March 17, giving the company a £2.92 billion (€3.5 billion) market capitalisation.

Changed habits

CEREAL PARTNERS UK & IRELAND, which makes Shreddies, Cookie Crisp and Nesquik, is preparing to close its Merseyside factory, involving the loss of 300 jobs, and move production to Staverton (Wiltshire). The company, which will no longer produce own-label cereals for supermarkets, blamed stiff competition and the changing eating habits of the British who now prefer protein-heavy breakfasts.

A SURVEY by the Foundation of Studies for Applied Economics (Fedea) revealed that 70 per cent of the jobs that were created in Andalucia, Valencia, Catalonia and Madrid since the pandemic went to over-50s. Nationwide, Fedea also found that foreign residents or those with double nationality occupied 75 per cent of the new jobs.

CAROLYN McCALL: Reportedly discussing an ITV-All3Media deal.

Deserved a mention

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

I SUPPOSE, as a singer and scribbler, I shouldn’t get the hump when I feel I’ve received the dodgy end of the stick from those who follow in the same professions.

Over many years in ‘Show biz’, I have both seen and experienced, someone pinching an idea, or claiming to be the originator of some money-making scheme, or melody that was not truly hatched from their own creative prerogative. Andrew Lloyd Webber was the first I actually came across. Although highly talented, he was once accused of nicking large bits of his hits from classical music of the past. When I sang one of my personal compositions to a member of Wayne Fontana’s group ‘The Mindbenders’, I later discovered that a part of one of their biggest hits ‘Groovy Kind of Love ‘matched my ‘Wonderland of Love’ almost exactly! It’s all a part of the game and does in fact go on all the time. Last week however I did receive a true pang of

discontent, when I watched the TV documentary about the wonderful history of ‘Porridge’, which became one of the biggest successes in TV series history. Shortly after my release from prison, I was visited by an old friend Ed ‘Stewpot’ Stewart. Ed was a very successful DJ and TV artist and was also the goalie in the Showbiz Eleven, the charity team I was a member of during many a hair-raising outing on weekends. I was of course delighted to see both him and the friend who accompanied him.

Although I had never met his companion Ian, I found him pleasant enough and as one does, was soon supping the brandy and regaling them both with often extremely humourist stories of my term behind the high walls of incarceration.

One had occurred when I successfully managed to get the guvnor of a semi open, which actually sported a football pitch, to allow me to invite the Showbiz Eleven team to play the POs and inmates one Sunday afternoon! After Ed’s visit, his companion amicably enquired, that as he would be nearby the following week, could he perhaps drop in again?

To cut a long one short, he subsequently dropped in some three or four following weekends. Not being present on a couple, I essentially suspected he had designs on my lovely wife Mary. He then dropped off of our radar altogether. The following year (1974) Porridge was launched on BBC TV! The very first edition depicted the Showbiz Eleven being invited to play against Ronnie Barker and his team of inmates in Slade prison.

Some of you may even remember this truly hysterical first viewing. I actually quite understandably couldn’t quite believe it. All became totally clear however when I inspected the credits. The series had originated from the pens of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais!

Ed’s friend Ian had picked the brains of yours truly, cleverly decided that no one had ever thought of featuring prison as the setting for a situation comedy and I suppose the rest is history. I just thought the ol’ boy should have deserved a mention somewhere; or perhaps even a shuffle on. Ah well.

Keep the faith, Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail .com

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

Amazon.ie has launched

AMAZON has officially launched Amazon.ie, its dedicated Irish online store.

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a reduced Amazon Prime subscription fee for Irish customers. Previously, Irish users subscribed to Amazon.co.uk, paying €11 per month. With the launch of Amazon.ie, the new Prime membership is now available for €6.99 per month or €69.90 annually. This includes access to fast and free One-Day Delivery, Prime Video, Prime Gaming, and exclusive discounts.

Amazon.ie aims to support Irish businesses, with over 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) already selling more than 5.5 million products on the platform, according to The Irish Independent. The company is also launching a ‘Brands of Ireland’ page featuring popular local brands.

Micheál Martin, Ireland’s Taoiseach, welcomed the launch, stating in a press release: “This expansion by Amazon will give consumers more choice and better value, as well as help small, medium, and large businesses across the country promote their own Irish and international products.”

Amazon employs around 6,500 people in Ireland. The company has invested more than €22 billion in the country since 2004, with €17 billion of that occurring since 2020.

Amazon office in Dublin.

AN Air India long-haul flight was unexpectedly forced to turn back midway through its journey due to a strange issue with the plane’s toilets.

The flight, travelling from Chicago to New Delhi on March 5 with around 300 passengers on board, had been in the air for five hours of its 14-hour journey when eight out of the 12 toilets malfunctioned.

Toilet trouble

The airline’s investigation found that the blockages were caused by polythene bags, rags, and clothes being flushed down the toilets, causing a severe clog in the plumbing system. About an hour and 45 minutes into the flight, the crew reported that several lavatories in both business and economy class were no longer functional.

At this point, the plane was flying over the Atlantic, and European airports were considered as potential diversion points. However, due to restrictions on night operations at most European airports, the decision was made to turn the plane

UFO sightings

STRANGE lights have been spotted in Irish skies two nights in a row, baffling onlookers and fuelling conspiracy theories. But, are these eerie sightings just the start of something bigger?

Some say satellites. Others say swamp gas. Some claim they’re top-secret government aircraft. And others? They’re already using the ‘A’ word... Is there something we’re not being told?

There’s something strange afoot in the skies above Ireland - and it’s not just the weather.

For two nights last week, baffled onlookers from the south coast to the capital watched as eerie glowing, flashing lights appeared in the night sky. Over Dublin, not one but two unidentified lights shimmered side-by-side on Wednesday evening, March 19. The night before, a solitary flashing object lit up the skies further south, causing

uneasiness on the ground. Were they satellites? The International Space Station? Or something far less ordinary?

“Does anyone have any ideas?”

That was the plea from Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather, who took to social media to share footage sent to him by two followers.

The videos showed what many would simply call a UFO - an Unidentified Flying Object - drifting

through the darkness.

“I received two videos from followers showing an unusual object in the sky over the last two nights,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “The first part is from last night over Dublin, and the second is from the night before off the south coast.”

His question - “Does anyone have any ideas?”sparked a digital firestorm of unidentified proportions.

back to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Air India explained that the decision to return was made in the interest of passenger comfort and safety. Upon landing, all passengers and crew safely disembarked, and accommodations were arranged to reduce any inconvenience. The airline assured that alternative arrangements were being made to get passengers to their destination.

Shutterstock, Raggedstone

Stock image of eerie glowing lights over a foggy winter sky - similar to last week’s reported UFO sightings in Ireland.

Acronyms Decoded: Ultimate cheat sheet

EVER felt like you’re trying to decode an ancient script from a lost civilisation when reading your text messages?

You see a message packed with strange codes, your brain freezes, and suddenly, you’re blushing because you have absolutely no clue what anyone’s talking about. Cue the desperate Google search. Sound familiar?

Honestly, with all these acronyms flying around, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re secretly part of some intergalactic communication network and don’t even know it! Maybe aliens are using these codes to chat with us, just waiting for the day we crack the code and realise we’ve been texting Mars all along. But jokes aside, while acronyms make communication fast and fun, sometimes I feel like they’re stealing the soul of writing. Writing, aside from the obvious, helps us process our thoughts and even acts as a built-in therapist - saving us a fortune in therapy fees! But hey, whether we like it or not, the world is changing, and those long, beautifully crafted sentences we used to write are being replaced with bite-sized codes. The future is here... and it’s all about acronyms. Alright, enough of my rambling - before I get lost in my own thoughts! Love them or loathe them, acronyms are like that stubborn stain on your favourite shirtthey’re not going anywhere. So why not embrace the madness and have a laugh? Here’s your ultimate cheat sheet to crack the code of modern texting before you find yourself googling ‘What does that even mean?’ every five seconds:

1. ISTG – I Swear To God (Use to emphasise sincerity or frustration)

FROM COAST TO COAST

2. IDC – I Don’t Care (Use when you’re unbothered)

3. HMU – Hit Me Up (Use when you want someone to message or call you)

4. ILY / ILU – I Love You (Use to express affection, obviously!)

5. TTYL – Talk To You Later (Use when signing off)

6. FWIW – For What It’s Worth (Use when giving your perspective)

7. OMW – On My Way (Use when you’re heading somewhere)

8. GYAT – Get Your Act Together

9. ONG – On God (Like ‘I swear’)

10. RIZZ – Short for ‘charisma’ (Used to describe someone’s ability to flirt)

11. BET – Means ‘okay’ or ‘for sure’ (Used to agree or confirm plans)

12. NPC – Non-Playable Character (Used to call someone boring or predictable)

13. SLAY – To do something really well or look amazing (Often about fashion)

14. L – Loss (Used when someone fails or embarrasses themselves)

15. W – Win (Opposite of ‘L’, used when someone succeeds at something)

16. MID – Mediocre, average, not great (Used to insult things)

17. NO CAP – No lie, being honest These acronyms are super common on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. So now, you can decode your friends’ messages with ease - without having to Google every acronym!

aif2018@hotmail.com

LUCCA MOVALDI PRESIDENT: AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL CLUB MARBELLA

INTERVIEW

Marianne Bahl (Denmark)

- Speaking European

A twist of fate brought Danish-born Marianne Bahl to Spain. Originally bound for Marseille, it was a detour that led her to the sun-soaked streets of Mojácar - and she hasn’t looked back since.

“I WAS actually going to Marseille in France but then life happened and destiny wanted me to end up in Mojacar.

“And I haven’t regretted it for a moment.”

Marianne quickly fell in love with the region’s climate, cuisine, and culture. “The warm weather, Spanish food, and afternoon siestas are wonderful,” she says. But it’s the people that truly won her over: “I love the Spa niards’ laid-back attitude to life.”

Mother’s Day: A tale of two traditions

THERE’S a Mother’s Day celebration somewhere in the world nearly every month. In the UK, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, March 30. In most of Europe (including Spain) and North America it’s in May.

In Thailand and Costa Rica in August. In Argentina in October, and in Panama and Indonesia in December.

cred tradition. Held on the first Sunday in May, it aligns with the country’s deep-rooted Catholicism, honouring the Virgin Mary as the ultimate mother. Until 1965, it was even marked on December 8 - Immaculate Conception Day.

So, while timing varies, the universal truth remains: mothers deserve celebration every day, not just once a year!

And finally, how can we begin to thank our Mothers for all their invaluable insights and advice? When I was a kid, and kicking up a foul-mouthed rumpus, she would say, “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, then why say anything at all?”

Still, that same relaxed approach can sometimes test her patience. “The saying ‘If we don’t get it done today, we’ll do it tomorrow - or maybe the day after’ is charming… until it’s not!” she laughs. Her advice for anyone thinking of making the move? “Patiencetons of it. Spanish bureaucracy moves at its own pace, and ‘frustrating’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Although Mother’s Day is celebrated with equal affection in both Spain and the UK, their origins and timing differ.

She also emphasises the importance of staying active. “Too much time and too little to do can pull you down fast. Keep yourself busy - it makes all the difference.”

The British version, ‘Mothering Sunday’, dates back to the 16th century, when people returned to their ‘mother church’ during Lent. Over time, it became a day to honour mothers, fuelled by Victorian sentimentality.

Spain, however, follows a more sa-

Imagine if I had listened to her then. Where would I be - novelist and columnist - now?

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

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

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

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

Loving life in Mojácar.

Credit: Marianne Bahl.

Bolt acquires Viggo

THE move, announced on Monday March 24, builds on Bolt’s existing e-bike rental operations in Copenhagen.

The acquisition gives Bolt immediate access to Viggo’s fully electric fleet of over 300 vehicles and a user base of 450,000 people across Copenhagen and Aarhus, according to Ritzau. The deal also adds more than 500 professional drivers to Bolt’s platform.

Founded in 2019, Viggo is known as Scandinavia’s first 100 per cent electric ride-hailing company. It has a reputation for high service quality, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.

“Joining Bolt allows us to scale our impact, benefiting both drivers and passengers with new technology, increased

demand, and continued commitment to quality,” said Kenneth Herschel, CEO of Viggo.

Bolt CEO Markus Villig commented: “We have always had a high bar for M&A [mergers and acquisitions], but we share Viggo’s mission to improve cities and were impressed by their fully electric operations.”

The company also announced a new partnership with Taxi 4x27, which will bring over 600 additional vehicles onto the Bolt platform, as reported by Silicon Canals. According to Lars Speekenbrink, Bolt’s Regional General Manager for Northern Europe:

“Our platform is designed to help partners scale efficiently, increase vehicle utilisation, and maximise earnings.”

Viggo taxi.

Hair, skin, and nails

ACHIEVING healthy hair, skin, and nails requires more than just external care - what you put inside your body matters too. Certain supplements can promote stronger hair, smoother skin, and more resilient nails.

Biotin is one of the most popular supplements for all three. This B-vitamin is essential for keratin production, a protein that supports hair, skin, and nails. Biotin can help improve hair thickness, reduce hair loss, and promote nail growth.

Collagen is another powerful supplement, particularly for skin and hair. Collagen peptides help maintain skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and promote hydration. For hair, collagen strengthens the hair follicles, reducing breakage and supporting growth.

Vitamin C is crucial for both skin and hair health. It helps boost collagen production and protects the skin from environmental damage by ﬁghting free radicals. It also aids in the absorption of iron, an essential mineral for hair growth. For nails, zinc is an important supplement. It

supports protein synthesis and cell growth, both of which are critical for strong, healthy nails. Zinc also helps repair damaged skin and promotes skin cell turnover, preventing acne and other skin issues.

Finally, Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil or flaxseed oil can hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, and give your hair and nails a healthy shine.

Combining these supplements with a healthy diet and pro-

Healthy living with arthritis

ARTHRITIS, a condition characterised by inﬂammation of the joints, can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling, making daily activities challenging.

However, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Exercise is essential for those with arthritis. Regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or yoga, can improve joint mobility, strengthen muscles around the joints, and reduce pain. Low-impact exercises are ideal for minimising stress on the joints while maintaining ﬂexibility and strength.

Balanced nutrition also plays a crucial role in managing arthritis.

Anti-inﬂammatory foods like fatty ﬁsh (salmon, mackerel), nuts,

seeds, and leafy greens can help reduce inﬂammation. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in these foods, are particularly beneﬁcial in alleviating joint pain. Staying hydrated is equally important to keep the joints lubricated and reduce stiffness.

Weight management is another key factor in managing arthritis. Carrying excess weight puts additional strain on weight-bearing joints, like the hips and knees. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce stress on these joints, easing pain and improving mobility.

Lastly, stress management is essential. Chronic stress can exacerbate inﬂammation, so practices like mindfulness, deep breathing, and meditation can help keep stress in check.

SUPERFOODS are nutrient-dense foods that are particularly beneficial for health and well-being. Packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other vital nutrients, these foods provide a wide range of health benefits when included in a balanced diet. Popular superfoods include berries, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. One well-known superfood is blue-

Superfoods

berries, which are rich in antioxidants and are linked to improved brain function and heart health. Kale, a dark leafy green, is high in vitamins A, K, and C, as well as fibre, supporting the immune system and digestion. Chia seeds

Strength vs Endurance

STRENGTH training and endurance training are two distinct forms of exercise, each offering unique benefits for the body. While both can improve overall fitness, they focus on different aspects of physical health.

Strength training involves lifting weights or using resistance to build muscle mass, strength, and power. The goal is to im prove the ability of muscles to generate force. It typica lly consists of shorter, more intense bursts of activity, such as lifting heavy weights in a low-repetition range. The benefits of strength trai ning include increased muscle mass, impro ved bone density, better posture, and enhanced metabolism. It also plays a key role in injury prevention by strengthening muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Endurance training, on the other hand, focuses on improving the body’s

ability to sustain prolonged physical activity. This includes activities like running, cycling, swimming, or long-distance walking, typically performed at moderate intensity over an extended period. Endurance training enhances cardiovascular health, increases stamina, and improves lung capacity. It also helps with fat burning and boosts overall energy levels. While both types of training are essential for well-rounded fitness, they complement each other.

Strength training builds muscle and power, while endurance training boosts stamina and cardiovascular health. Incorporating both into a fitness routine ensures a balanced approach to achieving overall strength, health, and performance.

are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and protein, promoting heart health and aiding in weight management.

Superfoods like avocados provide healthy fats that are beneficial for skin

and brain health, while quinoa offers a plant-based source of complete protein. Including these foods in your diet can reduce inflammation, boost energy levels, and improve overall health. Though no single food can guarantee perfect health, incorporating a variety of superfoods into daily meals can enhance vitality and prevent chronic diseases.

Credit: shutterstock / Supavadee butradee

Improving your immunity

PLANT-BASED diets have soared in popularity, raising the question: can they really boost immunity? While no magical superfood guarantees perfect health, experts agree that eating more plants can strengthen your immune system by providing essential nu trients.

A plant-based diet emphasises fruits, vegetables, grains, and pulses, and can still include small amounts of meat, fish, or dairy. This flexibility makes it accessible and sustainable for many. According to Sara Stanner from the British Nutrition Foundation, such diets are linked to lower risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. When it comes to immunity, the key lies in ensuring

trients it needs to fight infections. While animal products provide nutrients like zinc and B12, careful planning with plant-based foods can meet those needs too.

The gut, home to most of your immune cells, thrives on fibre-rich foods like lentils, brown rice, and broccoli. These foods support gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, which strengthen your immune defences.

Tim Spector, a leading nutrition expert, recom-

mends eating a colour ful variety of fruits and vegetables. Their natural compounds, known as phytochemicals, may not be miraculous, but they contribute to a robust immune system. Adding more plants to your meals doesn’t require drastic changes. Start by including more veggies or replacing meat with lentils in your recipes. Even partial shifts toward plant-based eating offer health benefits beyond immunity.

PROBIOTICS are live microorganisms that provide numerous health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.

Often referred to as ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria, they help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora, which is essential for overall well-being.

One of the primary benefits of probiotics is improving gut health. They support digestion by enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and helping to prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This can reduce symptoms of digestive issues like bloating and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Probiotics also play a role in boosting the immune system. By promoting a healthy gut microbiome, they help regulate the immune system and may reduce the risk of infections. A healthy gut is essential for immune function, as a large portion of the body’s immune cells are found in the digestive tract.

Probiotic benefits

prove mental health. Studies suggest a connection between gut health and mental well-being, often referred to as the ‘gut-brain axis’.

Some research indicates that probiotics can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and

stress by promoting a balanced gut environment. Other benefits of probiotics include improving skin health by potentially reducing conditions like eczema and acne and supporting weight management by affecting how the body absorbs and stores fat.

Probiotics may also im-

Credit : Shutterstock, Losangela

• News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •

Costa del Sol Luxury marina in 2 years

MALAGA is on the verge of achieving its dream of a luxurious marina akin to Puerto Banus, as the Port Authority has given final approval to the San Andrés marina project.

The administrative step clears a major legal hurdle in the process for building the luxury nautical complex, giving a clearer date for completion and backed by the same investors behind the planned 147-metre skyscraper on the Levante dock.

The San Andrés marina is expected to take two years to complete, and it is hoped to be up and running by late 2027. It will feature over 500 berths, including spaces for superyachts up to 50 metres, and is set to transform Malaga’s urban landscape.

Led by a consortium including Qatar’s royal family-linked Al Alfia, Igy Marinas, and Ocean Capital Partners, the marina promises to be the height of luxury.

Axarquia

A young talent’s triumph

MATÍAS CAMPOS, from Alcaucin, won the inaugural final of the Desplante Juvenil competition held at The Mining Museum of La Unión, in Murcia Province. The event was part of the International Meeting of Flamenco and Spanish Dance Schools, celebrating young talent in the art form.

“Matías Campos keeps winning awards,” stated Alcaucin Town Hall on its social media. Campos is a 15-year-old young flamenco dancer, who won in 2023 Tierra de Talentos reality show. His performance is so good that, during one of his shows, the famous dancer Antonio Canales stood up and said, “He makes Andalucia stay alive.”

The final in La Union saw competitors give their all, demonstrating promising talent. The other finalists, beside Matías Campos, were Paula Cabrera (Murcia), Rubén Guerrero (Malaga), and Claudia Sánchez (Madrid).

Ultimately, Matías Campos claimed victory, captivating the audience and the jury with his strength, expressiveness, and authenticity.

Mallorca

Business optimism

ACCORDING to a study conducted by KPMG and the CEOE, seven out of 10 Spanish business owners anticipate an increase in their turnover in 2025. This optimism is more pronounced in the Balearic Islands, where eight out of 10 businesses expect to see an increase in sales this year. Furthermore, 42 per cent of executives plan to expand their workforce, surpassing the figures from 2024.

The sectors most likely to benefit include insurance, tourism, banking, and real estate, with 80 per cent of respondents rating the current situation as good or excellent. However, in the automotive sector, the percentage of optimistic business owners drops to just 20 per cent.

The Balearic Islands, Andalucia, and Aragon are the regions where the most business owners and executives expect to increase their turnover, while Galicia, Madrid, the Balearic Islands, and Aragon show the best job creation forecasts.

Costa Blanca North MABS fundraising feat

The MABS Cancer Support Foundation has been raising funds to support cancer patients and their families since 1999. In 2024 their network of five shops, 335 selfless volunteers and their local communities raised €380,000. The astounding amount of money helped 525 cancer patients, with just over half of the donations, 51 per cent, being spent on nursing, 22 per cent, translation services and 11 per cent being used to fund equipment for those who desperately need it.

Representatives from the charity said that money raised would continue to be “used for various programmes aimed at improving the day-to-day life of cancer patients and their families, from providing them with means of transport to taking them to treatments etc.”

MABS help patients of all nationalities living in the Costa Blanca and the Costa Calida, and has charity shops in Alfaz del Pi, Javea, Oliva, San Javier and Totana all run by volunteers.

Almeria Food lovers delight

GARRUCHA is preparing to welcome food lovers to one of its most eagerly awaited gastronomic events, the eighth Ruta de la Tapa, running from Friday, March 28 to Sunday, April 6. The town’s restaurants and bars will offer a spectacular selection of tapas, showcasing the finest local ingredients and the creativity of the region’s chefs.

The Ruta de la Tapa has become a hallmark of Garrucha’s culinary scene, drawing locals and visitors alike to experience its rich gastronomic heritage. Participants will be able to explore the town, sampling the best culinary creations and engaging in the lively atmosphere that makes Garrucha’s food culture so special.

Visitors can take part by visiting the participating restaurants and bars in Garrucha, each of which will serve a specially prepared tapa. For €3.50, guests can enjoy a tapa accompanied by a drink, choosing from beer, wine, or a soft drink.

Diners will also have the opportunity to rate their favourite tapas.

HOTELS in the Region of Murcia had their best start to the year, welcoming more visitors and overnight stays than ever before. In January and February 2025, 184,658 travellers stayed in the region’s hotels, a 7.1 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. This growth was much higher than Spain’s national average of 1.2 per cent, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

More Spanish tourists visited Murcia, with 144,526 domestic travellers, up 6.5 per cent from last year. The number of international visitors also increased, reaching 40,132, a 9.4 per cent rise, compared to Spain’s overall growth of 2.5 per cent. February was a particularly strong month, with 100,792 visitors, setting a new record for that month. Hotel prices also rose slightly, with the average daily room rate at €64.79, up 1.5 per cent from 2024.

Tourism officials say these figures show Murcia is becoming a year-round destination.

Lupa needs dog-sitters to care for her at home

LUPA is a mature West Highland Terrier. She needs daily medication and so travelling with her owners is getting harder. So she needs dog-sitters to come to her home to care for her when her owners travel away on holiday or for work. It helps the homeowners that the dog-sitters will also care for the home and don’t charge for the house and dog-sitting.

HouseSitMatch saves you money

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

HouseSitMatch is safe - All members are checked

All members are checked for safety, and you choose which house-sitters come to care for your pets in your absence.

Your pets stay at home - safe and undisturbed

All pets beneﬁt from staying at home, so their routines are undisturbed.

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

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

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

3. Create a proﬁle with photos 4. Sitters apply for the available house-sits, you hold a video interview via the site and match! How does it work?

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

Trustpilot Testimonials - 4.8 / 5

Excellent

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

HouseSitMatch’s professional approach and secure platform allowed me to have conﬁdence in the people who applied to look after my dog. All sitters are checked and referenced before they can approach available ‘sits’, so I found it easy to select the person based on their likelihood of getting on with my pet and our home location.

Teresa,

How do you join? Register online via www.Housesitmatch.com Need a pet or house-sitter? House-sitting is a win-win, free house and pet-sitting exchanged for free accommodation!

Pet owner

Allergy advice

IF your pet is constantly scratching, sneezing, or experiencing skin irritation, allergies may be the culprit. Just like humans, the vet can help determine the cause through allergy testing or elimination diets. Adjust their diet : Food aller-

washing pet bedding can help reduce environmental allergens like pollen and dust. Provide relief : Medicated

tamines or allergy medications can soothe symptoms. If fleas are the issue, use proper flea

nary guidance, your pet can live

As a mature dog Lupa prefers staying at home, and needs dog-sitters.

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Skoda Kamiq Design Edition launched

ROAD TEST

By Mark Slack

ŠKODA is building on the success of its Kamiq range by adding a new trim level to the already comprehensive line-up. The new Design Edition is a trim level that has proved a popular choice in the updated Fabia range, is positioned between the existing SE Edition and SE L Edition models and takes the total number of trim options for Kamiq up to four. Created to appeal to design-conscious customers, the specification of the new Design Edition is aimed at delivering a striking look while maximising value for money.

Building on the specification of the Kamiq SE Edition, the new Design Edition is equipped with 17-inch Propus aero alloy wheels, black roof and door mirrors and privacy glass as standard. Inside, there are sports seats, cloth and microsuede uphols -

tery, a three-spoke sports steering wheel and red trim on the dash board. Am bient lighting, black headli ning and alu minium pedals complete the interior specifi cation.

The new edition is available with two engines and three drivetrain options. The 1.0 TSI 95PS and 1.0 TSI 116PS engines feature a manual gearbox as standard with the higher output unit also available with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The CO2 outputs range from 122g/ km for the 1.0 TSI 116PS manual to 126g/km for the 1.0 TSI 116PS DSG. In terms of efficiency, the 1.0 TSI 95PS model returns 5.44L/100km (51.9mpg) in combined driving while the 1.0 TSI 116PS manual returns a very slightly more economical

(50.6mpg).

Despite a pretty comprehensive specification, prices for the new Kamiq Design Edition start from €30,858/£25,855 for the 1.0 TSI 95PS model, rising to €33,567/£28,185 OTR for the 1.0 TSI 116PS DSG model.

The popularity of SUVs filtered down to smaller models a long time ago, not all are overly large gas guzzlers as some may have you believe, and the higher driving posi -

a car. They also afford better visibility for the driver, and passengers, when on the road.

Skoda offer three all-electric SUVs and three combustion engine models, with both petrol and diesel plus all-wheel-drive options. Unlike some manufacturers they also still offer straight forward hatchbacks and estates, the latter of which are especially commodious, and plug-in hybrid options. It’s fair to say they pretty much have all bases covered!

Cracking down on seatbelt violations

POLICE across Spain recently stepped up seatbelt and child restraint checks as part of a nationwide safety campaign by the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT). The aim of the initiative which ran until Sunday, March 16, was to prevent road fatalities by ensuring all passengers were properly restrained.

The Guardia Civil’s Traffic Division and Local Police conducted random checks on urban and interurban roads, while helicopters, drones, and automated cameras monitored compliance.

Failing to wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint system (SRI) correctly can result in a €200 fine and four licence points. In 2024, 157 people died on interurban roads due to not wearing a seatbelt, accounting for 26.8 per cent of car and van fatalities.

The campaign was part of

the broader RoadPol European safety initiative, reinforcing the importance of proper restraints in reducing injury risks. Spanish law requires children under 135 cm to use an approved SRI, though experts recommend extending this to 150 cm. Studies show that up to 90 per cent of serious or fatal child injuries could be prevented with correct use. Rear-facing seats - com-

pulsory until 15 months - offer even greater protection. The DGT will release final figures now that the campaign has ended. Last year, over 10,000 penalties were issued in a similar operation. With this increased enforcement, authorities hope to see a positive change, ensuring more drivers and passengers take these essential safety measures.

Spain’s DGT intensifies seatbelt and child restraint checks.

Camp Nou delay

BARCELONA have conﬁrmed that their return to the iconic Spotify Camp Nou will be postponed until next season at the earliest.

The club’s redevelopment project has faced multiple setbacks, with fans now told that the team will continue playing at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. Initial hopes had centred on a comeback by late 2024, then February 2025, and later Maywith whispers of an El Clasico marking the occasion.

However, Barcelona have now updated their Socios, saying that the wait will extend into the next season. The club has avoided a logistical headache after a series

Barcelona’s return to the renovated Camp Nou has been delayed until next season, forcing the club to stay longer at Estadi Olimpic.

of concerts scheduled at the Estadi Olimpic this summer were cancelled, allowing them to extend their lease at the temporary venue. Despite the stadium being a valuable short-term solution, attendance ﬁgures have fallen short compared to the sell-out crowds typically seen at Camp Nou. Barcelona’s ﬁnancial struggles have compounded the frustration.

The club had been counting on the Camp Nou’s matchday revenue to help ease budget pressures. Instead, playing at the Estadi Olimpic has meant missing out on millions in potential income. Fans and ofﬁcials alike now hope the 2025-26 season will ﬁnally signal the long-awaited return to their spiritual home.

Ferrari disqualified

FERRARI drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualiﬁed from the Chinese Grand Prix that took place on March 23. This means that, unbelievably, Ferrari missed out on scoring any points towards that all-important Constructors Championship.

In the case of Lewis Hamilton, the reason for his disqualiﬁcation has been cited as an issue with the rearmost-skid. A Technical Delegate’s report highlighted that when the skid wear of Hamilton’s car was checked following the end of the Chinese Grand

1st

Prix, the rear-most skid was found to be below the minimum 9mm thickness required. In a Ferrari double-disappointment, Charles Leclerc also received a post-race disqualiﬁcation when his car was found to be below the minimum weight required by the technical regulations.

More speciﬁcally, the report that followed a steward’s inquiry stated Leclerc’s SF-25 was 1kg below the minimum weight. In an added twist, the Alpine car driven by Pierre Gasly was also found to be under the required weight,

leading to disqualiﬁcation for him too.

With Leclerc, and Hamilton originally ﬁnishing in P5 and P6, respectively, drivers from P7 to P10 all beneﬁted. This meant Esteban Ocon, newcomer Kimi Antonelli, birthday boy Alex Albon, and the other newcomer, Ollie Bearman, all shifted up two positions and secured extra points for their teams.

Finally, as Pierre Gasly had originally ﬁnished in P11, both Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz also ended up taking home points by moving into the top 10.

woman IOC head

KIRSTY COVENTRY has just shattered the glass ceiling to become the rst woman to be named the head of the International Olympic Committee in its 130-year history.

The Zimbabwean swimming champ came out on top to replace Thomas Bach, taking the top job in world sport. “It’s a signal that we’re truly global and that we have evolved into an organisation that is truly open to diversity, and we’re going to continue,” she said on Thursday, March 20, in Athens.

Coventry clinched the position, leaving candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr in second place, followed by Sebastian Coe in third. She said that she would spend the next few months working with Thomas Bach to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities and to exchange some key ideas.

Seen as a controversial choice, Coventry has been outspoken with her views on transgender people in single-sex sports, arguing that sports should be categorised by the biological sex of an athlete and not what gender they identify as.

Reported by the Telegraph, she said she wanted to “ensure fairness in women’s sport and maintain the integrity

of women’s categories.” Coventry highlighted the dangers of allowing male-born athletes to compete in women’s categories.

The seven-time Olympic medallist was invited to the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission in 2012, and her election to the presidency heralds a new era for the committee, with expectations that she will bring a fresh perspective to pressing issues such as athlete rights.

Hamilton and Leclerc, Bahrain 2024.

Credit: Shutterstock: Jay Hirano

Kirsty Coventry speaking at IOC meeting, Thailand.

Credit: KC, Instagram

Credit : Shutterstock, Yuri Turkov