Travel to and within the European Union this summer could be opened up if Brussels agrees plans today (Wednesday) for Covid-19 vaccine certificates. The European Commission’s plan for a ‘digital green certificate’ will be a proof of vaccination, immunity and test results, preventing the need for quarantines or travel bans. Spain, Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries will be able …

Cyprus will open its borders to vaccinated Britons from the start of May, say reports. However, the UK government will not allow non-essential overseas travel until May 17 at the earliest. The BBC reported that the Cypriot government said those who had received both Covid jabs could travel to the Mediterranean islands without restrictions from May 1. The country’s deputy …

TUI is ‘preparing intensively’ for holidays to resume, with the European giant in talks with the key destinations of Greece, Spain and Cyprus. Chief Executive Fritz Joussen predicted customers will be able to travel this summer, and declared there was ‘no doubt’ a vaccination passport would ‘restore freedom to travel’. “Travelling in Europe will be possible in summer 2021 – …

Torrevieja town hall is to give two scholarships to students to study the Master of Rice and Mediterranean Cuisine at the University of Alicante, to develop works based on the culture of salt and fishing and use of blue fish, products which feature in traditional Torrevieja gastronomy. The councillor for Tourism, Fanny Serrano, announced the initiative, accompanied by the coordinator …

Not eating food at home or excess protein in diets jeopardise the very basis of the Mediterranean diet Spain has become the healthiest country in the world, as showcased in the Bloomberg Healthiest Country index, and much of the success is due to the Mediterranean diet, according to this organisation. “The reason why our diet is considered to be the …

This weekend, visitors to the FITUR tourism event have been treated to a preview of the parade, and now it´s time to get your feathers ready, your colourful frocks prepared, your drums and maracas tuned, and your scary costumes exhumed, because carnival is about to begin in Torrevieja. The schedule begins on Saturday 2 February, with the proclamation and the …

Obesity-related diabetes can raise the likelihood of dying from a cardiovascular disease six fold, states Doctor Carlos Sala, Head of the Obesity Unit and Specialist in Metabolic Surgery at Hospital Quirónsalud Valencia. The origin of type-2 diabetes, the most common type of the disease, is found in multiple factors, with the most significant ones being excess weight, physical inactivity and poor nutrition. …

We see regular reports of British and Italian operations in the Mediterranean as they continue to rescue thousands of North African immigrants who have been trapped on boats run by Libyan smuggling gangs. While British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon...

Prime Minister Rajoy, highlighted the importance of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council on immigration last week, at which it "was agreed to triple spending on search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean".

He explained that the Commission will publish a document in May to be debated in June, "to thus implement what logic and common sense dictates - a joint immigration policy for all European countries, given that there is free movement of people in Europe, and hence, what affects one country, wherever it may be, affects us all".

As regards the fundamental objectives of this immigration policy, Rajoy pointed out that "the most important thing must be to preserve the lives of people"; given the dramatic situation taking place in the Mediterranean. "This is something that the European Union cannot and will not allow under any circumstance", he explained.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister underlined the need to be "effective against the mafias that take advantage of people and which, on many occasions, lead them to their deaths", and committed to improve living standards and cooperation with countries of origin. "It is clear that if people do not have the possibility of leading a dignified life in their own country, they will do whatever is available to them in achieving this, as is obvious and natural", he claimed.

In his opinion, "the most important measures are to reach readmission agreements with all the countries of origin and transit of immigration", which would be an "important step", because "to date, as a country Spain has some agreements in place, but not at a European Union level". He also committed to linking this readmission "to cooperation with these countries".

Mariano Rajoy added that endeavours will be made to "reach agreements to work jointly with the law enforcement agencies of these countries, with a view to avoiding these situations arising in the future".

Here on the Costa's golf is one of the biggest leisure time activities for both tourists and resident alike and with this in mind we have secured the services of Mike Probert of Costa Blanca Green Fee Services to provide a weekly round up of local golf...

The decline in the value of the Russian ruble coupled with falling oil prices and international sanctions against Russia in the wake of the crisis in the Ukraine has resulted in a decrease in the number of Russian buyers of Spanish property. The Russ...

Diabetes kills around 25,000 people and costs the National Health Service 23 billion euro every year in Spain, according to the Spanish Federación de Diabéticos Españoles, who wanted to raise awareness of the disease in conjunctio...