The Torrevieja has opened a contract for the installation of public toilets in the centre of the city. The planned investment exceeds 319,000 euros, and was announced by the secretary of the local government board Federico Alarcón.

The facilities will be located on the Vista Alegre promenade, the Waldo Calero plaza, on the Juan Aparicio promenade by the Arturo Gómez plaza, in the Doña Perfecta park and the Encarnación Puchol de La Mata plaza.

Demands for toilets were originally made during the first term of mayor Eduardo Dolón, who announced the investment in 2014 but failed to act on it.

In the same government meeting, the tender for the drafting of a contract for the remodelling of the Plaza de la Constitución was also announced, although no details were given as to it’s appearance.

The post Torrevieja wants to locate public toilets on the promenades appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Gabriela Bravo, the Minister of Justice and Public Administration in the Valencian Generalitat, has changed her opinion about the feasibility of reducing the working day of civil servants to 35 hours a week. The proposal was rejected when first made in January by the UGT, but now Bravo is studying it’s introduction.

The economic impact is currently being analysed to define whether it would be acceptable for the regional budget, with sources suggesting that the first numbers presented to the Ministry are favourable to its launch.

If the working hours of public employees were reduced, the authorities would have to hire additional staff to cover the hours that were lost, especially in the public facing positions, and although there are still no official figures, the unions indicate that around 4,000 positions would be affected with hiring then carried out through temporary employment exchanges.

The change in Bravo’s position comes just one week after the Department of Health reached an agreement on the same terms with the unions for all statutory personnel. Health Minister Mínguez agreed with the union majority (the CESMCV-SAE abstained) to implement the 35-hour working day progressively; something that will become effective for the entire workforce of around 60,000 personnel, in January 2025.

With this agreement, the Community will join the list of eleven Autonomous Communities that have already, or are about to introduce, a similar pact, with the majority of Civil Service unions, UGT and CCOO, applauding what they call a “21st century Administration”.

The post Working week for civil servants to be reduced to 35 hours appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

La Fonteta, site of an ancient Phoenician port city, in Guardamar, resumes guided tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in a bid by the municipality to diversify sun and beach tourism and publicise one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the Mediterranean.

The site is a peculiar archaeological complex, a cultural landscape built in a pine forest, with the sand dunes having made it possible to “freeze” this Phoenician settlement from the 8th century BC, with a defensive wall with turrets and the remains of houses, one of the best preserved in the southeast  of the peninsula, and a 10th century Caliphate rabita, one of the few conserved in the Peninsula.

All this gives it a unique character in the Mediterranean to the point that it is about to become the fourth Unesco Heritage in the province, joining three others in Elche.

The National Committee of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites created in 1965), the only international non-governmental organization associated with Unesco that aims to protect and conserve cultural heritage, is supporting a joint candidature to include several Mediterranean rabits of different periods. Nominations in the international proposal, led by Tunisia and Egypt, also includes sites in Morocco, Algeria, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

The site reopens its doors from 24 March, with guided tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at a price of 5 euros through the website www.agendaguardamar.com, as well as two days a week with free admission.

The mayor of Guardamar, José Luis Sáez, said that future plans include the creation of an interpretation centre, as well as improving accessibility and lighting.

The post Guardamar’s 10th century rábita reopens its doors to the public appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

In everyday life the senior residents of Orihuela Costa are discriminated against, who have either no or inferior services to those of the inhabitants of Orihuela City.

One cannot help but compare the council services provided by small independent municipalities, towns with populations well under 10,000 people to the inadequate provisions offered to coastal residents with its population exceeding 34,000.

Older people living in Orihuela Costa have virtually no council provided services, there is only one residential care home, no Dementia / Alzheimer’s Centre.  No Mental Health Centre known as ADIEM.   No Day Care Centre.  However, there is a Civic Centre for older residents at Alameda del Mar, not many know of its existence, moreover the lack of public transport results in many elderly not being able to attend the various activities held there, especially if they are frail, vulnerable or disabled as they may not be able to drive due to their medical condition.

However, when you visit San Miguel there is a large, purpose built social centre for people of  senior age which houses a variety of activities, Likewise in Los Montesinos there is a large centre for older people next to the new Town Hall, both centres are well used.

Orihuela Costa has a large community of retired and ageing people from all nationalities.  Many individuals have chosen to retire to this part of Spain and contribute significantly to the local economy.  When individuals purchase a property they very rarely look at what services will be available to them when they became frail and dependent.

Most people plan for an active retirement and give very little thought to issues of dependency.   However, for the aged coastal residents, many who have lived here for a considerable time, their needs change, they find that there are virtually no provisions for them.

The volunteer sector of the community of Orihuela Costa are very active in providing services for older people in order to bridge this deficit, providing much needed assistance and support.  However, in spite of the excellent work undertaken by these organisations as a person’s needs increase and greater support is required, the lack of provisions on Orihuela Costa to assist these people is not acceptable.

Some people resolve this by returning to their country of origin, but others want the services provided in the area where they have lived and contributed economically towards for years.

IN SHORT IF IT WASN’T FOR THE FANTASTIC WORK BEING DONE BY VARIOUS CHARITIES, Community Care Association, Help At Home CB, Pink Ladies/AECC/Cancer Care, Caritas to name a few, supporting the elderly living on the coast with Home help, Respite, Cancer Health care, Transport for Medical assistance, they would be in a dire situation.

There is a large, purpose built, residential home situated behind the Villamartin Golf Course that has stood empty for several years, there are no plans to open this facility, in spite of the needs of the elderly dependent population. This is a disgraceful waste of a valuable resource, whilst this building stands empty and unused there are many very vulnerable people who are forced to either up roots and leave the area or manage in misery as their health and skills deteriorate.

How is it possible that very small municipalities can provide centres for the “third” age and cater for their ageing population more effectively than an area with a population of 34,000?  Is this another example of Orihuela City discriminating against the Costa residents?  Without an adequate number of Councillors representing the Orihuela Costa the coastal residents will never have adequate services.

PIOC intends to ensure the elderly citizens of all nationalities are supported by the services they are entitled to, The only way we believe this can happen is together we campaign for independence with your vote on 28 May.

The post P.I.O.C the only hope for the future of Orihuela Costa appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Electronic cigarettes, a.k.a. Vapes, because the user inhales vapour, are available in many flavours.  They sound to me like a modern version of Craven ‘A’ cigarettes, whose advertising slogan was “Smoke Craven ‘A’ For Your Throat’s Sake.”

You can start your day puffing on a cereal vape, then mid-morning coffee and scone vapes, perhaps nibble at a doughnut flavour or inhale a cocktail vape at lunchtime.  Followed by a peppermint vape if you are the designated driver.

Could we one day have different flavours of vaccine?  Imagine an armful of tulips from Amsterdam, or Belgian chocolates coursing through our immune system.  Chanel No. 5 would soon revitalise our sense of smell, and fish and chips could reinvigorate our taste buds, especially when laced with malt vinegar and one or two pickled onions.  A person can dream, can’t he?

In modern times, we like to sweeten pills, or make them easier to swallow.  This is perhaps a reaction against the days when castor oil was thought to cure all ills but tasted horrible.  No wonder, since it was used in the manufacture of brake fluid, paint, ink, and wax polish.  And as a lubricant for bicycle pumps.  Some parents used to discipline their children with a spoonful of castor oil, colonial officials dosed recalcitrant servants with it, and in Central Africa it was widely prescribed as a punishment for being too sick to work.  Not the best alternative to a benefits system.

Today, there are various ways to turn something bland or unpleasant into a more attractive purchase.  Food additives make products easier on the eye, a bit like eye makeup does.  Margarine, which in its natural state is white, changes to resemble creamy yellow butter by the use of a colouring agent.  Many synthetic colouring agents have been banned from food but permitted in cosmetics.  The barefaced cheek of those manufacturers.

Thickeners add body to foods, but possibly thicken our bodies as well.  Preservatives protect food from the effects of oxygen, so heaven protect us from preservatives, I say.  And although it is claimed that some additives make food last longer, that hasn’t been my experience.

Emulsifiers can prevent two unfriendly liquids, such as oil and water, from divorcing, so that your salad dressing tastes smooth.  Would that work equally well in couples therapy, I wonder?  And in the case of stabilisers made from seaweed — no, that would just make you feel seasick.

As far as I know, it is still the case that only royal personages are permitted to eat swans, so should a king or queen ever invite you to dine, I’m afraid it will be corned beef sandwiches for those of you below the salt.  At least until such time as a swan-flavoured vape becomes available.  By royal appointment, naturally.

David Aitken

The post Should We Bring Back Castor Oil? appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Crescendo International Choir has planned three concerts in April. The first one will be held Saturday, April 1 at Salt Church in Los Montesinos at 18.00. Admission will be free but there will be a bucket collection for charity when exiting the church. Doors open at 17.30.

Two more concerts will be given after Easter. One will be Saturday, April 15 at Santiago Apostol Church in Benijofar. This performance should take place around 20.00, after the mass. This free concert will feature a bucket collection upon exiting the church. Funds raised will be used to support the town hall’s social services department.

Thirdly, Crescendo International Choir will be performing at La Siesta Evangelical Church in La Siesta Urbanization, Torrevieja, on Monday, April 17 at 18.30. There will also be a bucket collection at this free concert in support of the church’s charity work.

Songs the choir plans to perform include Make You Feel My Love, made famous by Adele, I Say a Little Prayer for You, first made popular by Dione Warwick, The Rose, sung by Bette Midler and Hallelujah by Leon Cohen. The group will be singing City of Stars, from the popular film LA LA Land, winner of six Academy Awards in 2017. For its grand finale, the choir will sing a medley of six songs from the highly popular musical Les Miserables. So don’t miss it!

The choir now has a new president named Robin Myers. He took over as the leader of this group in February 2023 from outgoing president Mary Mitchell. She served as choir president for 13 years. Although no longer president, Mary continues to sing in the choir.

For more details about the choir or its upcoming events, please check out crescendo-choir.com. You can also follow the group on Facebook at CrescendoTorrevieja. Or if you have questions, email info@crescendo-choir.com.

The choir would be delighted to have more singers, especially basses. This international group sings a variety of songs ranging from musicals to spirituals, from pop to classical, mostly in English or Spanish. Rehearsals typically take place at Rincon de Miguel in Los Montesinos on Mondays between 17:45 to 20:00. All singers are welcome!

The post Crescendo International Choir Plans Three Free Concerts in April appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

El Gordo de la Primitiva lottery is drawn once a week on Sunday evening at around 21:30 CET.

There are 5 main balls numbered from 1 to 54 and a key ball (“número clave”) numbered from 0 to 9.

In order to win the El Gordo de la Primitiva jackpot prize, a player must match the 5 main balls and the key ball with the numbers drawn.

The post El Gordo de la Primitiva Results, Prize Breakdown, and Lottery Winning Numbers for Sunday, 19 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Roundabouts in Spain are a constant cause of confusion for many drivers, of all nationalities, including those native to the country, and cause a great deal of concern for drivers unaware that in Spain negotiating a roundabout is very different to that of other countries.

Whereas we have detailed extensively the correct way to drive on roundabouts in Spain, there is further confusion when roundabouts look different, and they are, when we come across the phenomenon known as “split roundabouts”, known in Spanish as “glorietas partidas”.

What is a split roundabout?

The split roundabout is an intersection where there is a circular ring with a one-way flow of traffic that channels all incoming and outgoing movements between the main road and the secondary road, but maintains the continuity of the main road, prioritising continuation on the main road on the rest of the movements. We can reach the split roundabout from two different positions and this position will define how we must do the different manoeuvres.

What does the DGT say about split roundabouts?

Drivers are very used to conventional roundabouts, the famous roundabouts, in which traffic flows in a circular way and in which the passage of the different roads that reach the roundabout is regulated. In this case, normal roundabouts, there is no doubt about the direction of traffic, nor the priority of vehicles.

Split roundabouts are a type of intersection in which two opposing sections are connected by a central island. In this way, and unlike what happens in a conventional roundabout, the main traffic flow passes from one side to the other crossing the islet, and not going around it, which is effectively what we should do to change direction – if allowed – or join the road that crosses.

In order to help us understand split roundabouts, the DGT has provided a useful graphic illustration.

Before we look at the graphic and explain what is going on, it is important to remember that priority is firstly dictated by horizontal or vertical traffic signs as on a normal road, and so, whatever the road signs say, is what we follow in the first instance. These, for example, could be signs saying stop, or give way, or traffic lights.

Understanding that there are no doubts about how we should proceed if we cross a split roundabout, the graph presented to us by the General Directorate of Traffic shows us perfectly how we have to circulate in a split roundabout if we want to change direction, of course, always complying with the right of way that will be regulated with vertical and horizontal signs, Stop, or Give Way, and traffic lights.

Now, let us look at the image provided by the DGT, the text written by the DGT explains that unlike roundabouts, in which the direction of movement is obligatory and circular, split roundabouts have two sections, generally opposite, which are directly connected through a central island, so that traffic passes from one side to the other and does not surround it. If it does not have signage, the general rule of priority on the right applies.

This is how you should turn left:

Starting with the blue car. We can see that if the blue car were to continue in the direction of travel, it would simply continue in a straight line, through the direct road cutting through the junction.

However, we are talking about turning left, and the arrows show us the path that the blue car should take at the split roundabout, and therefore has to follow the circular path, moving first to the right off the main carriageway flow, and following the route through that circle around the junction.

So far, the blue car makes more sense as it is generally following the route we would expect at a conventional roundabout.

Now we have the red car. The first point we have to make is that for the red car to turn left, as indicated by the arrows, it is free to choose the route onto the main carriageway, either turning left and following the main flow, or continuing in the circular path until reaching the main carriageway by a longer route. Again, this is entirely a choice, which can be dictated by things like the free path controlled by traffic lights, for example.

Remember though, as per normal roundabouts, the rule still applies if you follow the circular flow that you must always exit a roundabout from the right-hand lane, unless signs or signals say otherwise.

One important point to note is that when the red car has entered the junction, the blue car would normally have priority, and you must therefore give way to the blue car.

Remember, in all circumstances and, above all, at intersections such as split roundabouts, the most important thing and the best advice that we must follow is to be very attentive to the signage. Because if the roundabout has been signposted correctly, the signposting should be enough for us to fully understand how we have to proceed in each case and, above all, who has priority, to avoid risky situations.

How to drive on split roundabouts

There are two manners of approach when we reach a split roundabout, the first is if we are on the main road, the priority route, which flows through the junction as if it is a normal road, and the other if we are approaching from the secondary route.

Approaching a split roundabout on the main carriageway:

When we arrive at a split roundabout on the main carriageway, if we wish to continue along that carriageway, we simply continue, abiding by any traffic signs at the junction.

We will find the route which looks similar to a roundabout, on our left and right. Using the road to our left is prohibited, as the circular flow is always in an anticlockwise direction.

Turning or changes of direction:

Turn to the right.

It is the simplest manoeuvre, we must always start from the right lane on the main carriageway and stick to it to make the entire turn to the right, putting on the right turn signal with enough time to warn of the manoeuvre.

Indirect turn to the left.

A left turn is completely different. We will have to start by exiting to the right, beginning our journey now as if we are following the course of a conventional roundabout, signalling first to the right that we intend to leave the main carriageway, and once we are turning, we will change the indicator to the left, placing ourselves in the right-hand lane, considering that the first lane is the one that is closest to the island. We then indicate to the right to signal we are about to leave the roundabout.

We must be observant of the road signs and give way to traffic on the main carriageway.

Approaching the split roundabout on the secondary road:

When we approach the split roundabout in such a way that we find half of the island just in front of us and the other half of the island just on the opposite side of the road. In other words, there is no direct route through the centre. We, therefore, mostly, adopt the practices of a conventional roundabout.

Turns or change of direction:

Right turns.

Turning right, again, is the simplest manoeuvre, we must always start from the right lane and stick to it to make the entire turn to the right, keeping the right turn signal throughout the turn.

Left turns.

We have a choice of the route to take through the split roundabout to turn left. We can either turn left directly onto the main carriageway, or follow the flow of the road in a circular manner in the same way we would on a conventional roundabout. We indicate that we intend to turn left. In the latter manoeuvre, we must always exit from the right-hand lane, unless signs tell us otherwise, and signal our intention.

Remember, once again, at all times, to watch carefully for road signs and signals, and respect the rules of priority.

The post How to drive around split roundabouts first appeared on N332.es – Driving In Spain.

The post How to drive around split roundabouts appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The post Health reports 718 new cases of coronavirus in the Valencian Community an increase of almost a hundred over last week appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic and the weather, St. Patrick’s Day Parade finally returned to Cabo Roig. From the excitement and run-away success of the very first Parade in 2011, last Friday we finally got to celebrate the tenth running of Spain’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade with over 10,000 people in attendance.

Inside the Leader we feature news of the plenary vote that has approved a motion to build a Sports City on an Orihuela flood plain and we have the very latest information on the Animal Protection Law that was finally approved in Congress last Thursday.

The post The Leader Newspaper 20 March 23 – Edition 963 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The post Torrevieja highlighted in UN report on drug trafficking appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The post A “Civilised” start to St Patrick’s Day in Torrevieja appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Last week, following a visit to the National Police office in Torrevieja, the Oficina de Documentación, The Leader sat down with Gitte Lund Thomsen, the Councillor for International Residents, to discuss the importance of both the padrón, and residencia.

We discussed the padrón last week, and if you missed it, you can find it on the website, theleader.info, and this week we are looking at residencia.

Quite simply, you must become a resident if you plan to live in Spain. Since Brexit, the rules for UK citizens travelling to the EU changed and are now considerably more restrictive. Becoming a resident removes many of these post-Brexit barriers, but only if you live, or plan to live in Spain.

There is a specific process for applying for residencia, a process which is different for those who were already in the country, but a process which must be followed in order to qualify. The administration of the residencia process is handled by a specific department of the National Police.

Although both the UK and Spanish Governments already offer advice on how to apply for residencia, you will most likely find it easier to appoint an expert to handle your application with you.

You are likely to have heard of the TIE, Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, which is an identity card issued to foreign residents in Spain. This is a requirement now for living in Spain.

Many existing residents will have a paper based residencia certificate, and although this is technically still valid, you should really consider swapping it for a TIE, as there is an ever-increasing number of places and administrations who no longer accept the paper document. The good news is that this is one of the simplest processes.

The bad news is that although this process used to be carried out by the National Police office in Torrevieja, this is no longer the case, and you will have to go to either Alicante or Elche.

One process which is still carried out by the National Police in Torrevieja is the termination of residency status. So, if you now plan to leave Spain and return to the UK, you can attend the Police office in Torrevieja to have your residencia withdrawn. You can also do this without an appointment, although you may have to wait to be seen, as the office is often very busy.

Another function which can be carried out at the National Police office, again without an appointment, is to check your residency status. So, if you have any doubts, you can visit them, although you will need a translator if you don’t speak Spanish.

The Oficina De Documentación De Españoles Y Extranjeros is located on calle Arquitecto Larramendi in Torrevieja. There is a noticeboard outside, which has lists of documents and procedures required for a number of functions they carry out.

Gitte would like to remind us that her department exists for the benefit of international residents, and if you need help or advice, you can contact them.

The International Residents Department in Torrevieja can attend to residents in English, as well as French, German, Scandinavian, Russian, Bulgarian, and, of course, Spanish. You can email them direct, at pangea@torrevieja.eu, and you can make an appointment to visit them in person via the website, torrevieja.es, where you should look for the Residentes Internacionales Oficina Pangea, and you can visit them in La Mata town hall, or the office in La Siesta, calle Paganini, again, by appointment.

The post Talking Residencia in Torrevieja appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Spain’s La Primitiva lottery is drawn every Thursday and Saturday evening at around 21:30 CET.

There are 6 main balls numbered 1 to 49. There is also a “Complementario” which comes into play if it is matched with 5 main numbers, and a randomly-generated 1 to 9 “Reintegro” number which must be matched along with 6 others to win the special jackpot prize.

Dating back from 1763 when La Primitiva was known as “Lotería por Numeros”, it is one of the oldest ever lotteries and has generated billions of Euro in prizes over the years.

The post La Primitiva and El Joker Results, Prize Breakdown, and Lottery Winning Numbers for Saturday, 18 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The UK National Lottery is drawn at around 20:00 every Wednesday and Saturday and the UK National Lottery Results and Winning Numbers are made available online shortly after that time.

The post UK National Lotto Results and Lottery Winning Numbers for Saturday, 18 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The Irish lotto was launched in the late 1980s and it has gone on to raise more than €4.9 billion for good causes, funding projects in sport, recreation, health, welfare, arts, national heritage, and the Irish language.

There are two Irish Lottery draws each week – Wednesday and Saturday – and the Irish Lotto results and winning numbers are published online shortly afterwards.

The Irish Lotto draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at around 8pm (GMT).

The Irish lottery has one main draw and two additional draws – Irish Lotto Plus 1 and Irish Lotto Plus 2 – which players can enter and have the opportunity to win more prizes.

Wednesday 22 March 2023

How to play the Irish Lotto

The post Irish Lotto Results, Plus 1 and Plus 2, Lottery Winning Raffle Numbers for Saturday, 18 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

In Cabo Roig, the first sign of summer arriving is not the swallows returning from their winter migration but the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Of course, on that day everybody is Irish, no matter where they are from.

So, after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic and the weather, Cabo Roig’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade returned for 2023. From the excitement and run-away success of the very first Parade in 2011, last Friday we finally got to celebrate the tenth running of Spain’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This year, the parade returned to its roots, with the event taking place along the Cabo Roig Strip, mid afternoon, on the day itself where, after three years of disappointment and restrictions, there were no such frustrations as the organising committee set about making it the biggest and best yet as, once again, Cabo Roig was finally made ready for a grand day of fun and festivities.

Although the parade no longer figures in the world’s top thirty, according to local police, there were still well over 10,000 people crammed into local streets and bars, as the event was led off by the excellent Torrevieja Pipes and Drums.

As one previous organiser told me “we put them at the front every year because they know the route and they know the pace that the parade should take,” but those of us that have seen a few know that it is much more than that. They set the standard that the following troupes and comparsas endeavour to meet, below which they would not dare to fall on such an important day.

The bikers and classic cars did their traditional lap of honour after which the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums, followed by The Deputy Mayor and a handful of Ciudadanos councillors, joined one of Donegal’s all-time heroes, 1992 All-Ireland-winning captain, Anthony Molloy, as guest of honour and Grand Marshal at the front of the parade.

Irish music blared out from every bar as large crowds filled the entire route with children of all ages from Footwork and Totally Dance Studios perform traditional dance as the crowd clapped along in time.

As a lot of green energy ran through Cabo Roig, there were 20 different nationalities included in the the two-hour parade with over 20 groups, ranging from floats, dancing groups, bands, stilt walkers, drummers and Mickey Mouse cartoon characters. Particularly colourful were the many companies of comparsas with their wonderful plumed costumes, as they too danced along the route to the accompaniment of loud applause from the crowded pavements.

There was also a large contingent of ex-Irish Army veterans marching along in time, followed by drummers and musicians representing the commercial centre, Zenia Boulevard and many of the local Irish bars.

Earlier in the day in Torrevieja, there was a service in the Parish Church, which was followed by the raising of the Irish flag and the national anthem, after which a group of women performed a typical Irish dance.

The ceremony was attended by the Torrevieja mayor, Eduardo Dolon, the parish priest, Manuel Martínez Rocamora, as well as numerous Irish residents in Torrevieja. The flag raising was carried out by retired County Mayo councillor, Frank Durcan.

The post St Patrick’s Day Parade finally returns to Cabo Roig appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

With all of the legal processes resulting in changes and amendments along the way between the different levels of lawmakers, the Animal Protection Law has taken another, and definitive step again this week, with the Congress of Deputies approving most of the changes presented by the Senate during their assessment.

With hundreds of amendments in the penultimate draft, the Senate presented twenty major amendments to the law and the deputies have approved a dozen. We now have the full legislation as published in the BOE, which will enter into law in 6 months.

Still, one thing that has not changed, is that hunting dogs do not fall within the regulations.

All dog owners must pass a simple canine knowledge test. Carlos Alfonso López, from the RSCE veterinarian association, explains: “The test will have three parts, one on care and veterinary, another on animal welfare and another on legislation. The idea is that the documents can be downloaded and filled out online for free. It has an informative desire rather than a restrictive one”. In addition, those who take care of a dog must have civil liability insurance for damages to third parties, a regulation similar to the one that already exists in communities such as Madrid and the Basque Country. According to industry estimates, for small dogs they can range from 20 to 50 euro a year, while policies for dangerous dogs —already mandatory— range between 50 and 100 euro a year; Many home insurance already include this type of coverage.

The ban on homeless people having pets is also removed completely.

Another important novelty is that the list of 8 potentially dangerous dog breeds (the PPP) is no longer repealed, which means once again certain breeds of dogs will have to wear a muzzle and be on a short leash when out and about. It was planned that the owners would be assessed, rather than the dogs, as classifying by breed seemed unfair to many. This attitude remains.

The prohibition of leaving a pet unsupervised for more than 3 consecutive days has been approved. In the case of dogs, this time is reduced to 24 hours.

Those who have species outside the ‘Positive List of Companion Animals’ will have a period of 6 months to notify the authorities and adapt to the measures that are contemplated for their possession. This list is still outstanding.

The new law will expressly prohibit the “commercialisation of dogs, cats and ferrets in pet shops, as well as their display and exposure to the public for commercial purposes.” The sale of smaller animals will still be permitted in pet shops, and those shops can act as adoption centres. Likewise, violent and vexatious practices such as “regularly keeping dogs and cats on terraces, balconies, rooftops, storage rooms, basements, patios and similar or vehicles” or “carrying animals tied to moving motor vehicles” are prohibited.

Similarly, the standard also includes the implementation of mechanisms to control the breeding and sale of animals. In general terms, individuals will be prohibited from carrying out this activity, which can only be started by “persons duly registered” with the Administration, who must be professionals who comply with all the guarantees of animal welfare. Among these limits will be, for example, the limitation of the number of litters that each female can have. The fine for irregularly raising animals for commercial purposes will be that corresponding to very serious offences: from 50,001 to 200,000 euro.

In the same sense, the use of wild animals in circuses is prohibited throughout the national territory, as is already the case in a good part of the autonomous communities, and failure to comply with this precept will be considered a very serious infraction, also with a fine of up to 200,000 euro. Specifically, “the use of animals in prohibited activities, particularly in cultural and festive activities, in mechanical attractions, fairground carousels, as well as the use of wildlife species in circus shows” will be sanctioned. And, in the same way, “the use of animals in crib exhibitions, parades or processions” will be expressly prohibited.

These are some of the aspects that have been modified from the previous text. With the green light from Congress, the law is now ready for publication in the BOE and will enter into force in 6 months.

The post Animal Protection Law Clears Final Hurdle appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The weather was HOT as was the competition with 28 teams from 13 clubs most wearing their team strip. It was close games for the top slots!  The top three teams were presented with medals and wine by the President of the Las Salinas league.  The umpire of the day was John who ensured fair play and measuring!

The chosen charity for the Las Salinas league is the San Jose Obrero orphanage and we raised €300 on the day from the tombola with the assistance of Carol and Jane who persuaded the players to part with their money! Thank you, ladies, for your efforts!  The amount for the charity is €580 as all registration fees are included in the total.

The WINNERS ON THE day with 4 wins were

1st  Mediterraneo 3 captain Yvan Jurcaba (all red team)

2nd Evelyn Botias  with 3 wins

3rd Rocajuna 3  captain  Christian

WELL, DONE TO YOU ALL

The post Las Salinas charity Mixed triples petanca competition appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

The Euro millions results, lottery winning numbers, and prize breakdown are published shortly after each Euromillions draw which take place in Paris at 21:00 on Tuesday and Friday evenings.

The Euro Millions lottery is played across nine European countries. These are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

About the Euromillions Lottery

The Euromillions lottery is played across nine European countries. These are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The Euro millions lottery draws and the game offers a minimum guaranteed Euromillions jackpot of €17 million. In previous years the Euromillions jackpot has rolled over to a staggering €190 million. However, in Feruary 2020, the maximum jackpot prize was increased to a whopping €200 million when new rules were introduced. These new rules also meant bigger jackpots and more regular Superdraws.

How to play the Euromillions Lottery

To play the Euromillions lottery jackpot, five main numbers between 1 and 50 and two lucky stars between 1 and 12 are picked. If all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars are matched, the player wins the EuroMillions jackpot prize.

Global Lottery Results Service

Lottery winning numbers for the main lotteries are published on the lottery results page.

Euromillions Lottery results and prize breakdown
UK National Lotto results and prize breakdown
Irish Lotto, Plus 1, and Plus 2 results and prize breakdown

The latest lottery results are provided by the Leader Lotto lottery results service.

The post Euromillions Results, Lottery Winning Numbers, and Prize Breakdown for Friday, 17 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Eurojackpot is drawn every Friday night at around 20:00 in Helsinki, Finland. The Eurojackpot lottery offers prizes worth up to €90 million.

The Eurojackpot lotto begins with a minimum lottery jackpot prize of €10 million which quickly grows with rollovers. The Eurojackpot is played in 18 European countries, which include Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden which is why the Eurojackpot is one of the most popular lotteries in Europe.

Winning numbers and values for all twelve prize tiers appear on the Eurojackpot Results and Lottery Winning Nummbers page soon after the draw takes place. Additional up-to-date statistics and helpful resources and information about the Eurojackpot can also be found on the Eurojackpot Results page.

About the Eurojackpot Lottery

The Eurojackpot lottery is played across eighteen European countries. These are Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

The Eurojackpot draws offer a minimum guaranteed jackpot of €10 million. This can quickly grow to €90 million if the top prize is not won and there are successive Eurojackpot rollovers.

How to play the Eurojackpot Lottery

To play the Eurojackpot lottery, five main numbers between 1 and 50 and two bonus numbers (also known as the Euro numbers) between 1 and 10 are picked. The five main balls and the two Euro numbers are drawn from separate drums. If all five main numbers and both bonus balls (Euro numbers) are matched, the player wins the Eurojackpot top prize.

The post Eurojackpot Results, Lottery Prize Breakdown, Winning Numbers for Friday, 17 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

What is the Tarjeta Europea de Estacionamiento?

Card validity

Cardholder rights

• park or stop in areas reserved for loading and unloading
• benefit from discounts in places where a fee has to be paid for parking
• access restricted traffic areas

Limitations on the use of the card and penalties

How to apply for the disabled parking badge

Where can I request the blue badge?

We will now explain a couple of those points in more detail:

How to apply for the disabled parking permit, step by step?

Requirements to apply for the disabled parking permit

How does the disabled parking permit work and who can use it?

• Loading and unloading zones with no time limit.
• ORA (blue parking) zones without having to pay the corresponding fee.
• In some cities you will be able to access areas restricted to traffic.

What is the fine for improper use or falsification of the disabled card?

More information about the disabled parking permit from the Spanish Governemnt

Concusion

The post How to apply for a disabled parking permit appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre will invest 18 million euros to renovate its facilities during the coming months. The works, already underway, will improve the facades, the paved areas, the rest areas, the green zones and the catering areas, as well as the children’s leisure areas.

With this ambitious upgrade, Zenia Boulevard intends to strengthen its position, improving the customer experience and attracting clients from other cities with in the area of ​​influence. “With this commitment to excellence, we are increasing the quality standards that Zenia Boulevard has offered since its opening, consolidating itself as one of the best shopping centres in the province and in Spain,” said Antonio Simontalero, CEO of CBRE Investment Management, one of the centre’s management companies.

Teresa Verdugo, general director of Nhood Spain, said “the general image of the shopping centre will be preserved in accordance with its original design, recreating a Mediterranean village atmosphere that, ten years later, will see an improvement to its aesthetics and its infrastructure”.

The intention is that the works will have the least possible impact on visitors, catering establishments and shops. Thus, much of the work will be carried out at night, so that the shops and restaurants will continue to be open normally and events, concerts, workshops and promotions will continue to be offered.

Zenia Boulevard, opened in 2012, is the largest shopping centre in the province of Alicante. Located in Orihuela Costa, it enjoys more than 150 commercial premises.

The post Zenia Boulevard to invest 18 million in upgrade appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

I have a massive interest in politics. It draws me in just like every other contest that I take a liking to. Even foreign election results coming in on TV – where I wouldn’t know the candidates or the constituencies; and if I turn on my TV at bedtime; chances are that I will stay up watching the unfolding drama until the early hours of the morning.

I ran for Westmeath County Council in the local elections of 2009. I didn’t get elected (stop it, Lads) but I am so pleased I did it that once and it was one of the most invigorating experiences of my life. 890 voters gave me their first preference and that was the big consolation for me; the fact that 890 people believed I was the best man to do the job. I also accepted the fact that a better man got in – as he has since proved himself to be.

I have gotten up close to a lot of politicians since I went out helping with my first canvass in the mid-1970s. There is one thing I want to tell you and it is something beyond all doubt: Politicians are not ‘all the same.’ In fact, I would rate it as one of the greatest insults you can offer an elected representative is to dismiss him or her with ‘yiz are all the same.’ Politicians are just like you and me and the people around us. They are a mixture of the good, the shapers and a minority of bad. But mostly they are good – and some that I know, not too far from here are spectacularly great.

Most people who allow their name to go on the ballot paper are idealistic and they set out with noble aspirations of making the world a better place. Sometimes they become somewhat frustrated or disillusioned with the slowness of trying to change things, but many of them beaver away, serving not only the voters who elected them, but their entire community. Yes, they are well paid for representing their people; but most people have no idea as to the hours a politician puts in ‘on the job’. It isn’t just during office hours, but there is hardly a night that your TD or councillor isn’t off at some meeting or function. And don’t forget the price that the politician’s family pays on your behalf.

Ordinary people putting themselves forward for election (or, as in my case, being ‘talked into it’) is the mainstay of our democratic system. If, for any reason, the best people don’t go forward, we are all in trouble. Democracy, with all its warts, is still by far the greatest form of government. You only have to look at Russia or Iran to see what the alternative might be.

But all is not well with democracy. We hear that some of our TDs are not going forward in the next election, due to the personal abuse they are being subjected to. Women especially have to endure all sorts of online abuse from faceless cowards. Yahoos protesting and chanting outside politician’s homes is a new and disgustingly low form of abuse – where children are being terrified. There is also an increased risk of physical attack on the street or at public meetings.

Since shortly after the Civil War in this country, our elected representatives have been able to move around freely and unhindered at funerals, sporting events and simply chatting the people on the street. This is how it’s done in Ireland. What a terrible tragedy it will be if politicians become ‘confined to barracks’ for their own safety and are therefore not as accessible to their people.

We read of cases where politicians have been subjected to unbelievable harassment – and of course those well publicised outrageous attacks on Anne Rabbitte and Ciaran Cannon.

Some politicians I know are so talented that they could make more money in business or in their profession than they do as TDs. We therefore have to believe that a majority of elected representatives are there out of a genuine commitment to public service.

Anybody can yell abuse and it doesn’t take much courage to put an anonymous lie up on social media. That we have people excusing this behaviour with, ‘that’s what politicians sign up to’, is the start of the slippery slope if we are not careful. We see how the far right has orchestrated a foothold in America and Brazil.

So, it couldn’t happen here …? Wrong! Today it’s a ‘protest’ throwing eggs and breaking windows. Tomorrow it’s petrol bombs … and the day after …?

We need to respect all of our elected politicians whatever their hue; and no, ‘they are not all the same!’

Don’t Forget

Our politicians have thought of just about everything to help the farmer, except to leave him alone so he can operate his own business.

The post You Can’t Be Serious – They are not ‘all the same.’ appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

With the start of the SAMM race season looming, members of the Balaton boat share group worked hard to get their three 6 meter Sailfish 18 boats race ready. The project was led by group chairman Julian, helped by various members, Bob, Jurgen, Paddy, David, Jez, Willie and Rona, over the course of a week.

Starting with Sirocco, they sailed her to Los Urutias marina to be worked on. First task being to lift her from the water and remove the weed and barnacle growth from the bottom of the hull. This is excessive in the Mar Menor, probably due to the higher water temperature, and greatly reduces the hulls efficiency and boat speed.

The easiest way to remove it is by a hot water jet wash as soon as the boat is lifted before the encrustations dry out then, after being allowed to dry, a quick rub down and a fresh coat of anti-foul paint can be applied.

The upper hull and deck were then lightly sanded and repainted with epoxy marine paint and new decals applied. Finally a check was made off all the rigging and ropes before she was returned to the water.

She was followed by similar work on both Vision before the first race day and Ginetta soon afterwards. They should now all sail well and give the smaller dinghies a run for their money.

Interested in the Balaton Group? Find details and contact information at https://www.facebook.com/thebalatongroup

Photos

Before, during and after the work on Sirocco (Blue boat)

Working on Vision (White boat)

The post Balaton Bottoms all clean appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Mojácar Council, through its tourism department, was present at the BERLIN ITB from the 7^th to the 9^th of March, where they worked to promote the municipality to the German market.

Located on the Costa de Almería stand, Mojácar promoted its hotels, beaches and events, as well as its history, cuisine and sporting options, publicising all the tourist potential of Mojácar in this interesting market.

Almería province, with a significant representation at the fair, expects the number of visitors from Germany to increase this year, aware of the importance that the Spain and Andalucía brands have in the German market.

Mojácar Tourism Councillor, Emmanuel Agüero, along with the municipal tourism expert, held meetings with sector professionals in a fair format which is exclusively aimed at professionals.

Keeping to the international promotion planning included in the Mojácar Quality Plan  plan of action, the tourism department went to Berlin to support the recovery of this European market and the possible commercial relations that the sector businesses achieve there.

La company Best Hotels, whose offer of hotel places in Mojácar reaches 4,500 beds, was also present at this edition of the Berlin international fair, marketing its hotels in the municipality.

Close to 5,500 exhibitors from 161 countries were present at the 57^th edition of ITB, where a total of 90,127 attendees from more than 180 different countries gathered.

The Berlin ITB, organised by the company Messe Berlin, and held annually in Berlin’s Expo-Center City fairground, has in recent years become established as the event leader in the sector at a global level, and a must for a great number of companies.

This gathering has positioned itself as a meeting among professionals, with a broad range of round tables, seminars, conferences and networking.

The post Mojácar Promotion at the Berlin ITB appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Mojácar Council, in collaboration with the Almanzora Levante Vélez Waste Consortium, will launch a new campaign in which it will visit hospitality sector establishments to promote the recycling of glass container waste, facilitate their work, and thus comply with current legislation that makes it mandatory for these major generators to correctly manage their waste.

The hospitality sector generates approximately 50% of single-use glass containers, hence its collaboration is key to increasing the figures for the selective collection of glass containers in the locality and achieving recycling targets. For this reason, advancing the implementation of sustainable habits in the sector represents a significant improvement in the fight against climate change, and for the health of the municipality.

A team of environmental reporters is carrying out surveys and interviews with hospitality sector establishments in the municipality to ascertain first-hand their needs and in order to adapt existing resources. In addition, they will offer detailed information to the premises on how to recycle correctly and on the social, economic and environmental advantages of recycling glass containers.

In addition, through these visits, knowledge of the current regulations with respect to glass container recycling will be reinforced, and establishments will be reminded of the obligation to separate and correctly deposit glass container waste in the green container.

With the aim of facilitating glass recycling in the Horeca (Hotels, Restaurants and Catering) channel, Ecovidrio – a non-profit entity responsible for recycling glass containers in Spain – will provide the municipality with special containers, equipped with a wider opening and a hydraulic lifting system, which allows for the recycling of large amounts of glass. Likewise, the entity will deliver, at no cost to the hospitality sector, adapted bins with wheels to facilitate the transport of glass waste.

The glass deposited in the containers is 100% recycled and used to manufacture new containers, indefinitely and without losing its original properties.

The recycling of glass containers is a fundamental element for contributing to sustainable development, promoting the transition towards a circular economy and fighting against climate change. In addition, the recycling of glass containers is an activity that supports compliance with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically, it results in the objectives (11) Sustainable cities and communities, (12) Responsible production and consumption and (13) Climate action.

The post MOJÁCAR COUNCIL LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE RECYCLING OF GLASS CONTAINERS IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

To mark International Women’s Day, the “Garabato” infants’ nursery school celebrated a day at its facilities to show the little ones the different professions followed in their family circle, and more specifically, by their mothers.

The idea was received with much excitement by the little ones and they had fun finding out, some of them for the first time, what their mothers do daily while they are at nursery school.

Every mother taking part prepared a table with the usual tools of their trade. In this way the very youngest could see what hairdressers, nurses, mechanics, cooks, pastry chefs, masseurs and piano teachers do, helping them with the necessary tasks for doing their job and learning how to do it.

A whole range of professions that the children have discovered through their mothers at the nursery school, and that gives them a different perspective of their mums and their social environment.

It so happens that some of the mothers who took part in the day were, in their day, pupils at the nursery school where their children are now taking their first steps in their academic and social life, returning to the classrooms, but now to show the new generations their working activity. It is also the case that some of the teachers were pupils at “Garabato”, where they are now educators and have their children at the centre, as were their parents also.

A long history of the Mojácar municipal nursery school, which now has several generations among its pupils, being a well-loved and respected institution in the municipality.

Raquel Belmonte, Mojácar Council’s Councillor for Children, described the experience as very positive, aiming to meet one of the centre’s most important objectives: “gaining knowledge of the environment at the stage of infant education means offering the children opportunities of experiencing affective situations and bringing them closer to their culture, interacting with their surroundings in an increasingly diverse way that will be of great use to them at the schooling stage and throughout their lives.”

The “Garabato” municipal nursery school has nine teachers who take care of the pupils. They have five classrooms at their disposal in which they divide the little ones according to age, from 16 months to three years old, at which time they enter the Bartolomé Flores Public School.

Garabato is also one of the few nursery schools that has its own kitchen, guaranteeing the correct nutrition of all the little ones.

The post Mojácar pupils from municipal nursery mark International Women’s Day appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

• From today (16 March) UK licence holders are able to exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one without having to take a driving test
• For six months from today UK licence holders resident in Spain will be able to legally drive again on their valid UK licence whilst they complete the exchange process
• Please see information from the Dirección General de Tráfico for more detail on the process to follow

The Governments of the UK and Spain have reached a deal on driving licence negotiations, so that holders of a valid UK licence are able to exchange it for a Spanish one without having to take a practical or theory test. The agreement was passed by the Consejo de Ministros on Tuesday, followed by a formal exchange of notes on Wednesday and the agreement applies from today.

HMA Hugh Elliott said: “I am delighted that these negotiations have come to an end and UK licence holders will now be able to exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one without having to take a driving test.

From today, UK licence holders can drive for six months on their UK licence, during which time the Embassy is urging them to exchange it for a Spanish one as soon as possible. Remember that it is possible to exchange a licence anywhere in Spain, not only where you live.

I know this process has taken a lot longer than we all would have liked and has been very difficult for those affected. I am grateful to them for their patience and forbearance.

You can find information on the process from the DGT and we will be posting answers to some of your most frequently asked questions on our Facebook page.”

HMA Hugh Elliott updated UK licence holders in a video message (https://www.facebook.com/BritsInSpain/)  after the agreement was approved by the Consejo de Ministros on Tuesday.

For further information on living in Spain, including driving rules, visit: gov.uk/livinginspain

The post UK and Spain reach agreement over driving licence exchange for UK licence holders living in Spain appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.

Spain’s La Primitiva lottery is drawn every Thursday and Saturday evening at around 21:30 CET.

There are 6 main balls numbered 1 to 49. There is also a “Complementario” which comes into play if it is matched with 5 main numbers, and a randomly-generated 1 to 9 “Reintegro” number which must be matched along with 6 others to win the special jackpot prize.

Dating back from 1763 when La Primitiva was known as “Lotería por Numeros”, it is one of the oldest ever lotteries and has generated billions of Euro in prizes over the years.

The post La Primitiva and El Joker Results, Prize Breakdown, and Lottery Winning Numbers for Thursday, 16 March, 2023 appeared first on The Leader - News, Sport, Spanish Property for Sale, Business Directory, Classifieds, and Advertising for Spain.