NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Francisco Camps (second from the right), President of the Valencian Government, Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, and Alfonso Rus (extreme left), chairman of the Valencia County Council, were among the Valencian politicians who visited the International Tourism Fair - FITUR, in Madrid.

Alfonso Rus, chairman of the Valencia County Council, hosted a gala dinner at the International Tourism Fair - FITUR, in Madrid, and presented a plaque to Mayoress Rita Barbera for her support of tourism.

During the dinner, entertainment was a dialogue by Daniel Camara, and the Bulgarian violinist Vasko provided the music. For his final piece he was accompanied on the percussion by the chairman of the County Council himself, Alfonso Rus.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, accompanied by Belen Juste (second from the left), Councillor for Industry and Trade, attended a fashion parade as part of the IV Valencia Fashion Week. The event took place in the Valencia Trade Fair complex and Alberto Catala (extreme right), chairman of the Trade Fair complex, was also present.

Jon Albisu, managing director, and Marian Sierra, sales manageress, of the Basque solar energy company Albiasa Solar, were in Valencia to meet with investors interested in renewable energy.

Pepe Escobar, manager of the SYS Distillery from Elche in Alicante, presented a new liqueur "Date Golden Grain" at the International Tourism Fair - FITUR, in Madrid. Alejandro Soler, Mayor of Elche, and a large group of business people and the media, also sampled the new date liqueur and applauded its introduction on the market.

Vicente Reig, a former teacher at the Farm Management School of Catarroja, depending on the Valencia County Council, (extreme right in the photo) presented his book "50 Years of Valencian Agricultural Training at the Farm Management School of Catarroja".

The event was presided by Vicente Borras (centre photo), director of the School at present, and the author was introduced by a former pupil, Florencio Villaroyo, Managing Director of the fruit and vegetable company FRUDESA (second from the right in the photo).

Francisco Chirivella, Mayor of the neighbouring town of Catarroja, was also present (second from the left).

We advise our readers that a fault in the electronic system of the gear shift of Fiat automatic drive cars, causes sudden stoppages that can produce whiplash to the driver. This has been the experience of our editor while driving an automatic Fiat Stilo Abarth. The stoppages are also highly dangerous if they take place when passing out another vehicle, or in heavy traffic.