Costa Blanca South 1 - 7 December 2022 Issue 1952

CHRISTMAS WALK

THE Pink Ladies and Pan thers are a fundraising charity that was set up in 2010 by Maria Wilson, whose purpose is to help raise money for the early detection and research of cancer on behalf of the AECC cancer charity, based in Alicante.

Maria began raising money for the AECC after discovering she had breast cancer, followed by secondary cancer, however unfazed by the diagnosis she was deter mined to do what she could for others in and around the area, who might also be battling with cancer.

Since 2010, Pink Ladies have raised much needed funds, as well as provid ing a Support Hub and Screen Booking service, all whilst maintaining their record of donating 100 per cent of the pro ceeds from events to the

cause. Not only that, but all the team at Pink Ladies give their time voluntarily and totally free of charge.

Join Maria and the fab ulous Pink Ladies for their Christmas walk with Santa on Sunday, Decem ber 4. Please wear some thing festive for the walk that begins at midday,

registration opens at 11.00am.

The walk starts and fin ishes at La Zenia Boule vard.

Simon Morton of Sun shine FM Radio is joining in the fun and will be playing festive music and the Spangles choir will al so be live on stage singing

numerous festive songs to get everyone in the Christmas mood.

Maria and the Pink Ladies will also be collect ing dried foods and toi letries for those less for tunate and these donations will be passed on to the Reach Out chari ty.

FUN WITH SANTA: Come along and wear something festive.

Mayor standing again

THE municipal elections do not take place until May 28,

2023 but political parties are already

More than a symbol

MORE than 1,000 people gathered in Elche’s Hort de Felip on November 26 to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Palmeral’s World Heritage Centre designation.

The 500 hectare forest, Europe’s largest with more than 200,000 date palms, was planted by the Romans but was later extended by Moorish and Christian rulers.

This was also the first World Heritage anniversary cele bration to be held since the regional parliament passed the 2021 Ley del Palmeral, which guaranteed funding and conservation as well as protection from building develop ment.

“The Palmeral is more than a symbol for us all,” de clared Elche’s mayor, Carlos Gonzalez, thanking the differ ent groups and collectives present at the event for their efforts to “preserve, conserve and guarantee” the palm forest’s future.

From 10am the public was invited to watch, or partici pate in, activities linked to the local culture centring on the palm trees and their products.

These included a palm climbing competition with con testants wearing the traditional espadrilles and rope har ness used when lopping and pruning the trees.

First prize went to Jesus Aldarias who reached the top of the 15 metre tree and rang the bell at the top in the shortest space of time.

Jose Maria Perez, Pilar de la Horadada’s current mayor, will again represent the Par tido Popular and head their voting list.

He was running again, Perez explained, even though the past legislative term had not been an easy one.

“Administration is very slow, and we still have a lot to do,” he said. “I want to continue doing things the right way, and I’m not going to give up. I shall go on work ing with a lot of enthusiasm, doing my utmost.”

He intended to listen to ev erybody, because that was the only way to learn, the mayor continued.

Referring to the problems the town hall team had in herited and ‘unforeseeable catastrophic events’, Perez declared that he was com mitted to working for the town.

It will be hard work, he said: “I don’t have a magic wand so when there is some thing that can’t be done, I’ll explain why it’s not possible.”

History in miniature

A GROUP, headed up by members of the Military His tory Group from the Torre vieja U3A, paid a visit to the Military History Museum, Cartagena on November 23.

The museum is staffed by unpaid volunteers who are responsible for many as pects of the running of the museum including museum tours.

One of the many exhibits there is a Guinness World Record winning exhibit of over 3,000 handmade, miniature replicas of every thing from Land Rovers to Tanks to Aircraft and muni tions which were produced over a period of 60 years by a disabled ex serviceman which was donated to the museum by his widow.

The group were also able to watch a team of mainly UK volunteers work on a tank that they have been re building from two separate tanks over the past 12 years.

After an entertaining tour the group then moved on to

a local restaurant where they partook of a splendid Menu del Dia. An enjoyable end to an enjoyable day.

Should anyone be inter

ested in any of the activities that Torrevieja U3A offers to its members, or if you would like to join, visit torrevieja u3a.org.

Something for everyone

A WIDE range of concerts programmed for Mazarron’s local fiestas has been planned.

On Friday, December 2, en joy the Festival Queen Gala followed by a Ruth Lorenzo concert. On Thursday, De cember 8, youngsters can en joy the children’s concert and on Friday, December 9, enjoy

an Orchestra with the whole family. The festivities will end on Sunday, December 11, with the traditional parade of floats.

For more information on the wide range of events planned, head to the website mazarron.es, call (+34) 968 590 012 or pop into the Mazarron Town Hall.

MANY EXHIBITS: U3A at the Military History Museum.

Linda Hall

naming their mayoral candidates.

Fine to-do

ORIHUELA City Hall must pay €900 for not identifying the driver of a municipally owned vehicle fined on the N 340 last August. The Direc torate General for Traffic (DGT) contacted city hall for the driver’s details, but on failing to receive the request ed information decided in stead to sanction the local government.

New date

ELCHE’S August 15 fireworks display, which was postponed this year owing to high winds, will instead be held on De cember 28. This coincides with the Venida, celebrated each year in commemoration of the discovery of a statue of the Virgen found floating in a coffer off the coast.

Rock bottom

THE regional government ap proved creating a Chair of Seismology and Earthquake Geology at Alicante Universi ty. The new department’s principal objectives will focus on extending Alicante Province’s seismic network throughout the Valencian Community.

Bitter pill

A WOMAN who threw a blood pressure monitor and protection screen at a doctor in an Orihuela primary health care centre when he refused to amend her prescription, received a suspended four month prison sentence.

Shoebox blessings

MEMBERS of Salt Church Mar Menor, along with friends and family, have filled a whopping 110 shoeboxes containing all sorts of good things to show love towards young children living in pover ty.

This annual worldwide ap peal has been organised by Operation Christmas Child and shoeboxes sent from Spain this year are destined for some of the poorest and most remote parts of Africa as well as Ukraine.

Each box contains some thing to wear and be clean with, something to learn and

FOR some time Elche has been pushing its bid to host the Spanish Space Agency. In sup port, the President of the Va lencian Government, Ximo Puig, has announced that: “The Valencian Region is an emerg ing territory in the evolution of Spanish space.

“The city of Elche is the best launching pad for achieving success as it has all the capabili

play with as well as some thing a little special to love. Salt Church volunteer Pam

ties to host the headquarters of the Space Agency. It has a na tional and international trans port network and a dynamic and innovative business envi ronment and the recently inau gurated Elche Technology Campus where the new head

Fancy dress fiesta

THE Playa Flamenca Walking Football Club have just returned from Benidorm where they took part in in the fancy dress Fiesta, both Player’s Wags and supporters, and a fantastic time was en joyed by all.

They play at the CDM sports centre in Playa Flamenca Orihuela Costa, who have recently had the football Astro turf playing surface replaced and all football was cancelled, but is now playable.

The Playa Flamenca Walking Football Club will resume playing on Mondays from 4.15pm and then onto a local bar CK1 for re freshments and food.

If you would like to play Walking Football for the over 50s, con tact secretary Vicky Hill at flamencawalkingfootball@gmail.com or phone 602 481 575. Everyone is welcome to come along.

We hope you never need it, but this Christmas the Euro Weekly News would like to remind all readers of Spain’s emergency services number for police, fire, ambulance and coastguard.

quarters are planned to be.”

Ximo also referred to the strength of the companies and research centres in the Valen cian Region linked to this sec tor, and highlighted the public private collaboration to promote Elche, as well as to

and His love for everyone whatever their circum stances.”

The Salt Church Mar Menor meet at The Hub in San Javier (next to Yorkshire Linen) ev ery Sunday at 10.45am.

More details about this wonderful project can be found on the church’s web site: www.marmenorchurch.co m/blessings in a shoebox

For further information contact Andy Neale on: (+34) 622 416 793, or head to Face book: @saltchurchmarmenor or YouTube: Salt Church Mar Menor.

“promote quality employment arising from knowledge inten sive industries.”

Ximo Puig described the aerospace business network as “emerging and very diverse,” given that companies in this field are involved in launching satellites, software and pho tonics, as well as creating propulsion systems, satellite platforms and data processing.

Golfing glory

THECelts Club de Golf cele brated its last Championship Day at La Serena on Sunday, November 20. It was a breezy day which added to the degree of difficulty for one or two of the holes.

A shout out is needed to the green keeping staff head ed by Miguel and his team who have to be congratulated on their excellent ongoing course maintenance.

The staff in the pro shop have everything working like a well oiled machine, thanks are due to Bruno, Jean, and Karolina for their professional ism. Camillus, Philip, and Terry also deserve a mention as their hard work is really ap preciated by the members and guests who literally just turn up on the day and enjoy their game of golf.

his last presentation of his year.

On the Championship Day, Richie Heaton had a hole in one on the 9th but the overall winner on the day was Billy Thomson with 40 points. Well done all.

Vouchers

CREVILLENT’S Shopping Voucher campaign in creased sales in local shops by €358,266. This first cam paign that took place be tween September 15 and October 10 was an all round success, said Crevil lent’s Industry and Com merce councillor Manuel Penalva Alarcon, who is al so deputy mayor.

Residents acquired 5,502 vouchers, of which the €10, €20 and €50 de nominations were the most popular. Added to the €142,830 subsidy from the Diputacion provincial council, this brought sales of €358,266 to the 79 par ticipating local businesses.

“We are so satisfied with the great reception from the local population and shops that we are now preparing a second edition for the Christmas period,” Penalva an nounced. He also called on residents to be “responsi ble and public spirited” during the next edition.

Once the first vouchers were available, they were snapped up immediately by the local population, he pointed out, although they eventually exchanged only 98 per cent of them.

As a result 162, which were worth €3,220, were never used. “That was detrimental to the people who did not have the opportunity to obtain them,” the councillor said.

OFFICERS speak English, as well as many other European languages, and are your first port of call in an emergency.

The captain, Logan, bid farewell as captain as this was

Oldaker said, “Each child is al so offered an invitation to learn more about Jesus Christ

MEMBERS: Dorothy Phipps, Chen Lowrey and Pam Oldaker.

Image: Salt Church Mar Menor

Elche says no

THE regional parliament finally passed the un wanted and unloved Tourist Tax Law on Thursday November 24.

Of the three-party coalition that governs the Valencian Communi ty, only the Compromis and Podemos parties supported the move with the PSOE an unwill

ing partner in an enter prise it could not halt.

Francesc Colomer (PSOE), who heads the Generalitat’s Tourism department, said that he did not share the new law’s “philosophy, time liness nor chronic lack of empathy.”

The legislation estab lished fees ranging from

50 cents per night for campsites to €2 for fivestar hotels. Cruise tourists pay €1.5 as well as those in ‘superior’ tourist apartments and villas. There is a sevenday maximum, meaning that tourists pay the same whether they stay for a week or a month.

The tax is not obligato ry, so city and town halls where the Partido Popu lar (PP) is in charge have already announced that they will not apply it.

Some socialist-con trolled local govern ments are following suit, including Elche, where there is a PSOE-Compro mis coalition.

Two stretch game

CARP-R-US kicked off their Winter Se ries at El Bosquet. The match was fished in glorious sunshine and temper atures in the low 20s, amazing for the time of year.

It was a match of not two halves, but two stretches. The stretch with pegs 1a-7 fished OK, whilst the parallel stretch, 17-25, was really tough. First was Willy Moons (peg 1a) fishing his usual feeder tactics to finish with 12.04kg. The best weight on the other section (17-25) was Steve Fell with 2.98kg. Sadly, he was the only person to catch more than one fish on that section.

Regular monthly meetings are held and the dates and venues can be found in the Meetings/News section on the website www.carp-r-us.weebly.com

The club can also help members ob tain their Fishing Licences for the ap

TWO STRETCHES: Not favourable for everyone.

propriate provinces in Spain, and in ob taining the insurances needed before you can legally fish in some areas of Spain. See the licences section of the website.

Talent showcase

IF you have a hidden talent why not take part in the fifth edition of the talent contest Show your Worth in Santa Pola.

Interested young people between the ages of 12 and 25 have until December 12 to register on the website: www.racojove.com.

A jury made up of artists from the world of music and dance will choose the four best artists or groups and the live final gala will be held in Castle Marquee in Santa Pola on Thursday, December 22, at 7.00pm. With free entrance why not pop along and cheer on your favourite performers?

Shutterstock.com/

Dudarev Mikhail

Showcase your talent.

Image: Master1305/Shutterstock.com

Prettying up the port

AFTER discussions with residents and busi nesses in the port area of Torrevieja it has been decided to create underground roads for traffic to and from the port of Torrevieja. It is hoped that this will improve the area and serve as a great dynamic element for the city, especially the town centre and seafront. The mayor, Eduardo Dolon, explained that the integration of the port area with the rest of the city is the priority, with a budget of €1,700,539 and is expected to be completed within five months.

The idea proposed by Torrevieja City Council is to replace the current Paseo de la Libertad, creating in its place a large multiuse esplanade from the current line of build ings on the promenade to the sea, complete ly modernising how it looks.

General traffic will not be allowed, except for emergency vehicles, neighbours and catering services.

The council is committed to gaining pedes trian and semi-pedestrian spaces in the sur rounding streets from the port of Torrevieja.

Treading the boards

DO you have a back ground in musical theatre or have the urge to be on the stage, then look no further than Studio32 Musical Theatre Company who are currently on the lookout for new mem bers.

Studio32 are looking mainly for men in the age range of 20 to 40 years of age who can either sing,

act or dance to star in their upcoming produc tion of ‘Hello Dolly’. Don’t worry if you do not have experience of musical the atre as you will receive guidance from experts to bring out the best of your talents.

To find out more go along to the open days at Casa Contenta, Rojales on December 6, 13 or 15.

They are also on the lookout for people with technical abilities in sound, lighting, carpentry and painting, costume, to help backstage. If you would like further infor mation about the theatre company, please visit the website www.studiothir tytwo.org or call 679 062 272. You will be made most welcome.

Bikers collection

BENEJUZAR is collaborating with the toy collection cam paign as part of the ‘Moto Papanoelada’ initiative.

Twelve municipalities, 20 associations and hundreds of bikers will travel through out the province of Alicante on December 17 and 18 col lecting toys.

The arrival of the Moto Papanoelada to the town of Benejuzar will be on Sunday,

December 18. It will start at the headquarters of the Ali cante Motorcyclists’ Union League and will travel through the municipalities of Algorfa, Almoradi, Ben juzar, Bigastro, San Miguel de Salinas and Los Mon tesinos.

The toy collection cam paign ends on December 16 so you still have plenty of time to donate at one of the

TORREVIEJA will soon be shining bright as the councillor for Local Police, Securi ty and Traffic, Federick Alarcon, has con firmed that his urgent plan for public lighting works has been approved.

The initial budget for this contract is €80,408.

The councillor explained that the plan will correct several deficiencies in public lighting in different locations in the mu nicipality. The first part of the work in volves renewing the lighting in the Qu iron Hospital area. It is necessary to modify the installation because it is part ly powered by the supply of the hospital itself.

following collection points, Benejuzar Town Hall, Bar Sa lon Mamalu and Eurobazar la Botigueta.

The mayor, Rosa Garcia, has confirmed that “we are very happy with this initia tive. It unites so many peo ple, organisations and insti tutions with a single objective, which is to help so that no one is left without a present this Christmas.”

Light up

There is also the need for the cable to be replaced where it was stolen be tween the roundabouts of the CV-905 road.

Areas with poor or no lighting will be enhanced with new streetlights on Paseo del Acantilado in Cabo Cervera, Calle Alboran and areas around La Puris ma school.

The work will also include a new pedestrian crossing lamppost at the exit of the roundabout of Calle Orihuela.

Group disbands

FOLLOWING a presenta tion and then a FAQ ses sion with the Healthcare Team from the British Consulate at the monthly meeting of the Torrevieja North Neighbourhood Watch held on Monday November 28 at Oasis San Luis, Doug Allen, the Chairman of the group , stood down.

Doug said that after the challenge of running the group for the past five years and the decline in attendance at meetings, there needed to be a dif ferent focus and he would like to see others take more interest and involve ment in the community. Doug thanked the meet ing for their support but

said as there have been no volunteers to take on the running of the group, the group has therefore been disbanded.

The meeting thanked the chairman for his hard work and diligence over the past years and re quested he continue to provide his invaluable support services to the

Food Banks campaign

SAN JAVIER in Murcia is again taking part in the Federation of Food Banks’ Christmas cam paign. Social Rights councillor Estibaliz Masegosa called on residents to take part in the Federation campaign, especially bearing in mind the time of year.

She was accompanied by Jose Maria Cer vantes, Caritas director in Santiago de la Ribera and social worker Candido Lorente who liaises with Caritas in both San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera.

“We have more and more families but less food to distribute,” Cervantes said.

La Ribera’s campaign centred on the Aldi su permarket on November 25, 26 and 27, al though San Javier has postponed its own until December 16, 17 and 18, when donations will be collected at Supermercado Pardo.

“We decided to wait until after the town fi estas,” Lorente explained.

“With campaigns like these, and others like Operacion Kilo at the Sagrado Corazon school, we are able to obtain more supplies.”

All of the donated food will be distributed by the Caritas food banks in San Javier and La Rib era and will go to local families, Cervantes said.

community, even in a re duced manner.

No further meetings are planned, though there may be ad hoc meetings for special reasons such as the voting procedures, visas and padron matters.

As there have been a large number of requests to continue to provide an information platform, a new Facebook site has been set up to take over from the Neighbourhood Crime Watch site. The new Facebook site is Torrevieja North Information Watch.

Slapstick fun

THE Rojales Pantomime Group are going to Treasure Island, are you going with them?

Be entertained by Long John Silver and his dastardly pirates when they sail on the good ship Hispaniola from Bristol Docks to find trea sure in the Caribbean.

It’s all there for you to enjoy at the Cardinal Belluga Theatre in San Fulgencio on December 1 and 2 at 7.15pm and December 3 at 2.15pm.

Linda Hall

INVASIVE non-native plants and vegetation have been re moved from Torrevieja’s Cabo Cervera micro-reserve.

Between them, the town hall’s Environment depart ment and its regional govern ment counterpart worked to gether to remove the invaders from the micro-re serve’s 1,600 square metres of land.

Nor was this the first time that the local and regional au thorities have collaborated on tackling this problem, al though Torrevieja’s Environ ment councillor Antonio Vidal explained that on this occa

Tickets are €10 for adults and €5 for children from the following: Card Place, Benimar, Post Room, Benijofar; Post Box, Dona Pepa; Post Box, Entre Naranjos; Cards and More, La Mari na; Carpet Heaven, Los Montesinos; Bargain Books, San Miguel; Help Vega Baja, San Miguel; Quesada Computers, Quesada.

Email voreilly16@googlemail.com. Dona tions from ticket sales will go to local charities.

Invaders repelled

and sun rose, creepers now popular in Mediterranean gardens, have been removed.

NON-NATIVE: South African Iceplant removed.

sion they covered a far larger area than in the past.

“This continues the conser vation project that we have been carrying out over the last five years,” he said.

The South African iceplant

So have the yuccas and verbe nas that were threatening the micro-reserve’s native plants, including the rare and EU-pro tected cat’s head rockrose which is listed as a vulnerable species. It was to save the rockrose that in 2017 the Generalitat created - at Torre vieja Town Hall’s request - the micro-reserve which covers an area of nine hectares be tween Cabo Cervera and Cala de la Higuera.

Shutterstock.com/ Ole Schoener

WALKING FOOTBALL - CBWFL JOINT LEADERS

WITH a 4 2 win against Porto bello Shamrocks at Pinar de Campoverde on November 25, Formentera WFC joined current League Champions Portobello Campoverde at the top of the Costa Blanca Walking Football League.

This was Shamrocks actual first match and it showed as the Shamrocks did not gel from kick off and were 2 0 down in 10 minutes. Despite some very good saves from home goalkeeper Scott, For mentera went 3 0 up after 18

minutes.

In the second half Sham rocks were more organised and a goal mouth infringe ment allowed them to pull one back to make it 3 1.

The lively Formentera for wards pressure paid off with

pressure producing a goal mouth infringement and the converted penalty making it 4 1.

The Shamrocks pulled an other goal back to make it 4 2, but Formentera held on to take the three points and go level at the top of the League. Manager Pete Davis was hap py with the result and his be ing team joint league leaders after finishing bottom last season.

Costa Blanca’s biggest club Esquina Park Rangers trav elled to Camposol, Murcia on Friday November 25 for a friendly match.

EPR’s experience soon showed as their slick passing and midfield dominance put pressure on Camposol from the kick of Esquina’s quality shone through and they increased their lead to 5 3 which was the final score.

After a good match played in good spirit the players en joyed well deserved refresh ments in the ‘Rendezvous Cafe’.

Rangers have a much tougher match ahead when they play Portobello Campov erde at Daya Vieja, Quesada, on Saturday December 3. Re sult and report in next week’s Euro Weekly News.

CD Thader continued their winning run with a good 3 1 win when they visited Hon don Valley Flyers.

CD put the game out of

reach in the final third of the game scoring to clinch the game 3 1.

Played in good spirit, this was Thader’s fifth game with out defeat against a strong Hondon Valley Flyers team.

Refreshments were en joyed in Hondon’s local bar af ter the game.

Many thanks to the Euro Weekly News, supporters of Walking Football.

For further information about walking football con tact cbwfl@gmail.com or the club Facebook pages.

Magic fairy dust

ENJOY a musical adventure with Tinker bell and friends.

Tinkerbell and her friends, Fania, Iris and Dilia, are weakening and losing their powers. The fairy dust is disap pearing and they don’t have the strength to build spring in time. The magic Saucum tree, which provided the fairy dust, is completely dried up and the children have stopped believing in them.

Tinkerbell and her friends, will have

to find a solution to travel to the real world and find the humans so that they will believe again.

Tinkerbell is on Thursday, December 8, at midday at the Teatro Principal Ali cante, Plaza Chapi, s/n 03001.

Tickets are available from the box of fice between midday and 2pm and 5pm until 9pm daily.

For more information go to the website www.teatroprincipaldealicante.com or call (+34) 965 203 100.

FRIENDLY MATCH: Action from EPR v Camposol.

HELPFUL TRAVEL HINTS

AS a disabled traveller I hope these tips prove use ful:

For many Age Concern clients and others this is the time we plan to visit family in the UK.

So please don’t get caught out, as a friend did on a recent visit.

Do remember to check the size and weight of your luggage check your airline guide.

Are you taking a lot of medication with you most of us do!

Print off a copy of your medications from the list provided by your GP.

This saves any unneces sary explanations at Securi ty should you be ques tioned.

Do remember that you cannot take bottles of wa ter through Security.

You can however take an empty bottle and refill it when you are air side.

Or buy a bottle of water when you pass Security for just €1.

Are you disabled or have mobility issues?

Then you should consider Special Assistance. They are at the airport to help you.

Just make sure you com plete the necessary section when booking your ticket online.

Go to their designated area on arrival and leave the rest to them brilliant service.

Age Concern providing Help where Help is Need ed.

Call us on 652 537 615 (24/7) or email info@age concernfym.com.

Ship stowaways

SPAIN’S Maritime Rescue Service has reported the rescue of three stow aways travelling on a ship’s rudder in the Ca nary Islands after its jour ney from Nigeria.

The oil and chemical tanker Althini II arrived in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on Monday November 28 after an 11 day voy age from Lagos in Nigeria, according to MarineTraf fic, a website that tracks the journeys of ships.

The coastguard con

firmed their rescue and said that the migrants were taken into the port and attended to by health services.

It is not the first time stowaways have been found on the rudder of commercial ships to the Canary Islands.

In October 2020, an other four people were found by police at Las Palmas after stowing away on the rudder of an oil tanker from Lagos for 10 days.

Disruptive behaviour

PASSENGERS on a Ryanair flight to the Span ish party island of Ibiza have hit out at the airline for failing to control a group of drunken revellers who blared loud music and harassed fellow holiday makers for the entirety of a three-hour flight.

Videos posted online showed the group of young partygoers drinking

from large bottles of vod ka, shouting, and banging on the ceiling of the plane during the Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to the Balearic island of Ibiza - a holiday location notorious for its nightlife.

A spokesperson for the budget airline said: “A group of passengers on this flight from Edinburgh to Ibiza became disruptive

mid-flight.

“To diffuse the situation and minimise any disrup tion to passengers, crew made several announce ments throughout the flight and refused to serve more than two alcoholic drinks to each passenger.

“Passengers ceased their disruptive behaviour before landing safely in Ibiza.”

Unique beauty

THERE has been global recognition for a Spanish town as it made it on to a list of the best towns in the world to visit in 2023 by a global travel agent from the USA. Ron da, a town in Malaga Province was select ed after it charmed the agency thanks to its stunning views.

The promotion of the beautiful white washed town from the network with near ly two million Facebook likes is bound to bring international visitors to the area and boost the local tourism industry.

Ronda joined the likes of Tivoli, Italy, and Dunkirk, France on the prestigious list.

Indeed, Ronda is often recognised for its unique beauty. Situated on the edge of a gorge that drops more than 150 metres, its striking 98 metre tall aqueduct and white buildings have earned the town national and international acclaim. Its buildings in cluding its bullring, which, built in 1785 is the oldest in Spain, and its Casa del Rey Moro, Islamic inspired gardens provide fur ther attractions for tourists.

Ancient encryption

A DEDICATED team of re searchers has cracked an ancient writing code that was used by Spanish king and Holy Roman emperor, Carlos V. Cryptographers in a French lab spent six months deciphering the code before announcing their discovery on Thursday November 24.

The letter which was written almost 500 years ago, in 1547, reveals Carlos V’s fears of assassination in the correspondence with Jean de Saint Mauris. The fascinating letter was discovered in 2019 but on ly handed over to cryptog

raphers in 2021.

The emperor was one of the world’s most powerful men during the 1500s, reigning over a vast empire which extended throughout Europe and the Americas for more than 40 years. On immediate glance, the letter is “utterly incomprehensi ble” according to cryptolo gist, Cécile Pierrot, who cracked the code.

Pierrot worked tirelessly for six months using a com puter system and key like notes in the margins of some other surviving corre spondence to understand the encrypted letter system.

Snowy season

Betty Henderson

THE first snowfall of the season has finally arrived. After a slow start to the winter season, snow fell in mountainous regions in the country in mid November, signalling relief for meteo rologists and environmen talists.

The first snowfall of the winter appeared in moun tainous regions across the country including the Pyre nees on the northern bor der, where snow fell above 1,200 metres. Snow also

Peter McLaren Kennedy NOW’S the time to go see Spain with some 42 long dis tance bus routes to provide free travel in 2023 after the government agreed to in crease the state concession from 50 to 100 per cent.

According to a national news site on Saturday, November 26 the legislation was to go through the Senate

fell in national parks includ ing the Sierra de Guadarra ma, Puerto de Navacerra da, and Rascafría in Madrid and the Sierra Nevada in

Granada.

The snowfall is due to a polar stream, bringing freezing temperatures to the highest altitudes in the

See Spain

in the next few days after it was approved by the Congress of Deputies.

The original concession of 50 per cent came into force on September 1 as part of the government’s efforts to pro

mote public transport in light of the energy crisis. That con cession will now rise to 100 per cent from January 1, 2023, on all state owned bus lines, of which there are 42 and which provide services to

country. The arrival of cold er air from across the At lantic brought cooler tem peratures and rainfall to much of the country, with mountainous regions see ing the biggest drop in tem peratures.

Throughout the last week, snow continued to fall in these locations, jump starting the winter ski season. The Pyrenees received the most intense snowfall, with up to half a metre of snow falling in some locations.

nearly 2,400 towns and vil lages. To benefit from the free service, you need to buy a 10, 20 or 30 trip ticket as well as pay a refundable de posit.

If you have completed the required number of trips then you will be repaid your de posit, however, the qualifying number of trips is yet to be announced.

Luxurious

SPAIN’S luxury market is booming as a Barcelona high street joins the likes of New York’s Fifth Av enue and Parisian Champs Elysees on a list of the world’s most ex pensive high streets.

Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona made the 18th place on the global list. A new report also re vealed the locations in Spain with the highest rental prices for shops.

Passeig de Gràcia occu pied first place with rent costing an annual aver age of €2,677 per square metre. The high street is home to luxury brands including Swarowski, Dior, and Versace.

Two other Barcelona streets were on the na tional list, Portal de l’An gel and Serrano, before top high streets in the capital, Gran Via and Pre ciados. The streets’ large concentration of design er stores helped them to recover their pre pan demic revenue levels.

WHITE OUT: The first snowfall was reported on November 18 in the Sierra Nevada.

Photo credit: MeteoSN (Via Twitter)

Michelin marvels

THE lauded list of Spanish restaurants receiving Michelin stars was an nounced on November 22 at an awards gala in Toledo with 29 restau rants joining the list for the first time. The Michelin Guide Spain 2023 recog nised a total of 1,229 Spanish restau rants for various distinctions for their unique creations.

The Michelin Guide recognises the best in restauration in countries world wide, awarding ratings of one, two or three stars according to the quality of meals in selected restaurants.

The 2023 guide includes 20 restau rants in Andalucia, 13 in the Balearic Is lands, 24 in Madrid, and 22 in the Va lencian Community. Catalonia did however achieve the greatest acclaim on the list with an enormous 53 restaurants receiving recognition in the guide.

Thirteen Spanish restaurants re ceived the highest award of three Michelin stars, with two new additions to the list. Thirty four restaurants re ceived two Michelin stars, and others received honours including green sus tainability stars.

Art escapade Climate ranking climb

SPAIN’S climate action is paying off as the country climbed a whopping 11 places in the 2023 Climate Change Performance Index. The ranking jump is being credited to Spain’s Climate Change and Ecolog ical Transition Law brought in this year.

The index which classifies the 60 countries responsible for 92 per cent of emissions causing global warming, placed Spain in 23rd place. Although Spain remains mid way through the rankings, classi fied as an ‘average’ polluter, the country has experienced a mete oric rise compared to last year.

This year’s ranking was topped by Denmark with an impressive score of 79.61 out of 100, with Nor way as the closest contender with a score of 73.28. Spain obtained a score of 58.59, beating nations in cluding the USA which scored be low 50.

The index is compiled each year by NGOs Climate Action Network Europe and GermanWatch.

Indicators used to create the ranking include greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, re newable energy infrastructure, and national climate change policies.

Spain’s climate action is now paying off.

2 into space

A RETURN to the space age in Spain as the country announced a bid to send two astronauts into space. Thirty years after last being in space, Spanish astronauts Pablo Álvarez and Sara García Alonso are set to be sent into space by the European Space Agency.

The news marks a new precedent for Spain with its first ever female astronaut, with Sara García Alonso, who is set to join the reserve space team for the time being. The astronauts were announced by the Euro pean Space Agency in a graduation ceremony at the Grand Palais Éphémère de París on Wednesday November 23.

Álvarez is an aerospace engineer, having studied in his home city of León, before specialising his skills with a Master’s degree in Warsaw. Meanwhile, García Alonso is a biotechnologist who has worked for several years researching cancer at the National Cancer Research Cen tre.

The last Spanish astronaut with the European Space Agency was Pablo Duque, back in 1992.

THERE was a a major event in Madrid as a unique art exhibi tion arrived from Kyiv un scathed, despite the threat of Russian bombs. The 51 piece rare art collection left the Ukrainian capital in a secret convoy on Tuesday November 15, just hours before Russian missiles rained down across the country.

The collection arrived in Spain on Sunday November 20 after five days on the road, travelling more than 3,000 kilo metres across the continent. The collection came under threat several times after a nail biting journey through Ukraine, as the country suffered power outages and the stray missile incident in the Polish border town of Przewodów.

The artwork was exhibited on Tuesday November 29 at the Museo Nacional Thyssen Bornemisza in Madrid, along with several other fascinating Ukrainian cultural objects and pieces of art.

The exhibition will be a pow erful expression of cultural soli darity with Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

Photo credit: Holli / shutterstock.com

Furious prince

PRINCE ANDREW is report ed to be ‘furious’ after he was informed by ministers that he will lose his British taxpayer funded police pro tection next month, accord ing to a national news out let, on Sunday, November 27.

It is believed that the Duke of York could try to launch an appeal against the decision. The security detail currently accompanies him whenever he leaves the Windsor royal estate. His bodyguards cost the British taxpayers around £3 million annually and the report said that Andrew allegedly be lieves this should continue to be funded by the public.

King Charles recently made it clear that he intends to distance himself from his disgraced younger brother, with claims that Charles in formed him he would never be allowed to return to Roy al duties.

Following the legal action brought against Andrew, he was stripped of his royal du ties by the Queen.

White Christmas

THE Met Office has revealed its first Christmas Day fore cast for the UK including predictions as to whether snow is on its way.

With less than one month to go until December 25, the Met Office has looked into the possibility of whether Brits can expect a white Christmas.

Weather forecasters have offered their predictions for the festive period as heavy rain and strong winds bat tered parts of the UK on the last weekend of November,

reported a national news outlet.

But while November has brought an abundance of rain, the Met Office predicts that December will be a little more settled, with tempera tures normal for the time of year.

Those who are holding out for a white Christmas will be disappointed to hear that so far there is no mention of snow just overnight frost and fog, a chance of rain and a possibility that tempera tures will plummet.

Student crackdown

THE UK is set to crack down on foreign students with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said to be looking at reduc ing numbers in an effort to slow down net immigration as reported by major news sites on Friday, November 25.

The news follows an in terview with Suella Braver man and a Commons com mittee, where it was clear that she did not have a grasp on the immigration situation, including why ille gal immigration takes place in many cases.

This also follows the re lease of statistics by the ONS (Office for National Statistics) that reflect migra tion numbers for 2022 are higher than normal due to a number of factors including the conflict in Ukraine and Hong Kong and the lifting of Covid 19 restrictions.

Sources have said that among the measures being considered by the prime minister is by limiting ad

missions only to the top ranked universities and lim iting the number of relatives that can accompany a stu dent.

The idea is unlikely to be well received by universities many of whom today enjoy significant additional in come from foreign students.

Take responsibility

THE UK’s energy watchdog OFGEM has been accused of abdicating its responsibility after it dropped plans to stop energy companies from spending the deposits paid by their customers.

Chris O’Shea, Chief Executive of Centrica, told a na tional newspaper on Saturday, November 26 that: “En ergy companies must be adequately capitalised by their shareholders so that if they fail, the shareholders feel the pain, not UK consumers.

“This feels like an abdication of responsibility by a reg ulator not focusing on the right things.”

The comments follow criticism of OFGEM on Friday November 25 when it announced that it was abandon ing proposals that would require companies to ring fence customer credit balances.

O’Shea and others have said that OFGEM has not learned the lessons of the energy crisis which saw the government having to bail out suppliers, with the bill ul timately being picked up by taxpayers and energy users.

Currently there are no rules in place that dictate what energy companies can or can’t do with the credit bal ances they hold on customer’s accounts.

WEATHER FORECAST: No mention of snow.

Royal limelight

MIKE TINDALL and Zara Phillips have been tipped to replace Harry and Meghan in the Royal Family, picking up the royal roles that were ‘abandoned’ by the power couple before their move to America.

Celebrity agent Mayah Ri az believes that Mike, who was voted out of the I’m a Celeb jungle on Saturday November 26 will be offered to present roles on TV shows such as BBC’s The One Show.

Mike, who received a sweet message from Princess Beatrice following his jungle exit, has been mar ried to King Charles III’s niece Zara Phillips since 2011.

“Mike has clearly had to have all sorts of permission to get on I’m A Celebrity. There’s no denying his celebrity career will propel from here,” Riaz said.

According to celebrity ex pert Greg Double, he said: “Not since the 2003 World

Cup has Mike Tindall per formed so well in Australia. He may be off limits to com

mercial brands, but his pop ularity could be hugely help ful to the royal brand.”

More support

THE UK is providing Ukraine with helicopters for the first time accord ing to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

Announcing the supply on Wednesday Novem ber 23, Wallace said that the first Sea King has al ready been delivered and was in active duty. He added a further two are being readied and will be delivered shortly.

The delivery of the heli copters sees an escala tion in the support being provided to Ukraine with the Sea King, a workhorse since the 50s, having proved effective in many combat situa

tions including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wallace added that an extra 10,000 artillery rounds were also being provided to help Ukraine secure territory recap tured.

Speaking on a visit to Norway he said: “Our support for Ukraine is un wavering.”

The announcement of more support comes on the same day that the EU declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, and on the same day Russia proved that it is by bombing more civilian fa cilities including a hospi tal.

THE Eurovision Song Contest has announced major changes to the voting for mat ahead of Liverpool 2023.

International fans will be delighted as for the first time the new system will al low viewers in non partici pating countries to vote. The change will allow votes to be counted from non partic ipating countries, with their semi final and grand final votes being added together and converted to points that will have the same weight as one participating country.

Voting delight

ers and the jury would de termine the successful semi finalists who would go through to the final.

Rest of the world can vote.

Additionally, organisers have said that they plan to remove the power from the jury in the selection of final ists for the grand final. Since 2009, votes from both view

The news was announced by event organisers, the Eu ropean Broadcasting Union (EBU) in late November, de scribing them as ‘major changes’.

The UK will host the 2023 contest in Liverpool on be half of 2022 winners Ukraine.

Referendum denied

THE UK Supreme Court on Wednesday November 23, determined that the draft Scot tish Independence Referendum Bill is outside the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, said that the UK government was com mitted to working with the Scottish govern ment on the ‘issues that matter most to people in Scotland such as restoring economic stability and helping with energy bills’ as opposed to a second vote on Scottish independence.

Mr Jack said: “We note and respect the

unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court to day.

“People in Scotland want both their govern ments to be concentrating all attention and re sources on the issues that matter most to them like restoring economic stability, getting people the help they need with their energy bills, and supporting the NHS.

Jack added “As the Prime Minister has made clear, we will continue to work constructively with the Scottish government in tackling all the challenges we share and face.”

Limits soon scrapped

THE roll out of 3D scanning technology in airports in the UK and elsewhere could see the limits on liquids being replaced or scrapped completely before too long.

John Holland­Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow, told a national news source that the technology is being introduced across all airports and once in place will allow the limits to be removed safely.

The lifting of the limit and the need to take the items out of your hand luggage could go by as soon as 2024, along with the

THE British government has told all departments and local authorities to stop installing Chinese made surveillance cam eras at ‘sensitive sites’.

Reported by a national tech site on Friday, November 25, this comes as the UK grows increas ingly concerned at China’s intentions. In particular the government has asked public bodies to stop in stalling CCTV cameras pro duced by Hikvision or Dahua who they believe

need to remove technology such as lap tops. The limits were brought in 18 years ago after police foiled the UK’s largest terror plot that involved smuggling explosives through airport security in soft drink bottles.

The news that 3D scanning technology will replace liquid limits on airlines will be widely welcomed by the airlines, airports and passengers, with security controls be ing one of the most stressful aspects of fly ing.

Eye spy

to have close links with the Chinese government.

Although the call is more of a request than an order, the government hopes that the warning will be heeded and that public authorities will re view their existing con tracts and intended future installations.

Civil liberties groups like

Big Brother Watch, believe that most British public bodies use CCTV cameras made by Chinese compa nies. Whilst they do not openly accuse all the com panies of having subver sive intentions, they say that the potential exists for these facilities to be ac cessed by Chinese authori ties.

• December 3, 7pm, Strictly Dance - an evening of stars, class, show and party, Lake View Bar and Restaurant, Rojales

• December 7, 12am, Dan Maines, Gary Barlow tribute act, hi- Life Via park, Orihuela Costa

• December 7, 8.30pm, Richie C, The Corner Flag, La Finca

• December 11, 5pm, Paula’s show, The Corner Flag, La Finca

• December 22, 4pm, Cilla, Christmas with Cilla, At De Barra Irish Bar, El Galan, Orihuela Costa

• December 23, 2pm, Christmas Jumper Party with Elvis Tribute act, The Champagne Bar, Orihuela

• December 23, 9pm, Alex Tipping, The Corner Flag, La Finca

• December 24, 9pm, Jim McMail, Cabaret Show, Jax Bar, Orihuela Costa

• December 25, 1pm, Becky B, Christmas Day Lunch, El Cid Bar and restaurant Benidoleig

• December 31, 8pm, Cuddles Disco, Aurora Bar & Lounge, Dona Pepa, Quesada

Swan Lake

BALLET fans will be delighted to hear that the Kiev Ballet Company will be performing the renowned ballet Swan Lake.

The Kiev Ballet Company maintains, among its main objectives, the care of the traditions and essence of the purest classi cal ballet. Each performance is a feast for the senses due to the sobriety of the chore ographies, the perfection of each and every one of its lines, the virtuosity of its soloists and the showiness and grandeur of its sets and costumes, all of them designed exclu sively by the best masters of the Kiev work shops.

Over the years, they have toured much of the world performing the main classical ti tles, as well as original choreographies. Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beau ty, Don Quixote, Giselle, Carmen, Scheherazade, Les Sylphides, Cinderella, Zorba the Greek, Eyes Wide Shut, etc are part of their regular repertoire.

The Kiev Ballet is based at the Interna tional Centre for Culture and Arts in Kiev, Ukraine.

GET in the Christmas spirit, pick up a bargain and per haps be lucky enough to win a prize on the tombola.

Bar Arianaz warmly invites you to the Big Red’s Animal Charity Christmas Fair.

The Fair is on Saturday, De cember 10, from midday un til 4.00pm.

Why not pop in and sit on Santa’s knee? Guaranteed

This fabulous event is on Sunday, Decem ber 4, at 7.00pm at the Teatro Circo Plaza Poeta Sansano, s/n, 03300 Orihuela.

For more information or ticket enquiries go to the website culturaorihuela.com or call (+34) 966 740 104.

Christmas giving

fun for all. Stalls include a cake stall, a jewellery stall, a gift stall and much much more.

There will be live entertain ment, raffles and a tombola.

Big Reds rescue and feed abandoned animals in Spain. Money raised feeds, cas

Free charity concert

THE Royal British Legion Concert Band commences a very busy December and is proud to present a Christmas Spectacular Charity Concert with all proceeds going to AAN (the Association of Aid for the Needy of La Marina

and San Fulgencio.)

The concert is at the Car dinal Belluga Theatre in San Fulgencio, on Friday, December 9.

Arrival at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. The concert has free admission, so get there early to avoid disap pointment!

Also appearing at the Christmas Spectacular Charity Concert are the Crescendo Choir and guest singer, Leroy, with com pere Keith Nicol.

So please join the fun in what promises to be a fan tastic evening and you will be helping to raise money for a most worthwhile cause.

trates and worms the ani mals in their care. Every ani mal they save is castrated, wormed, chipped and vacci nated ready to rehome.

For more information call Bar Arianaz, C. Escorpio, 6, 03189 Orihuela, Alicante, or call (+34) 602 520 424.

TABLE TOP SALE

ON Saturday December 3, starting at 11am, La Siesta Evangelical Church will host a Table Top Sale at Che Loco, El Chaparral.

Stalls will include Jewellery and Handbags, Household Items, Raffle, Christmas Deco rations, Cake Stall, Cards, a Draughts Challenge, Bottle and Jar Hamper ... and a whole lot more.

Che Loco is located at C. Fray Angélico 11, El Chaparral and La Siesta Evangelical Church would like to thank them for allowing the sale to be held there.

Everyone is welcome and hopefully you will grab a bar gain alongside enjoying some fun, fellowship and festive spirit!

KIEV BALLET: A delight for ballet fans.

Image: Kitreel/Shutterstock.com

Queen of the jungle

THE third and final week in the ‘I’m A Celebrity’ jungle is always fast and furious, with one celeb leaving each night. Gogglebox star and comedian Babatunde left on Wednesday, November 23 after the public voted.

Former Radio One Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles had a good run, but his time was up on Thursday, November 24. Comedian Seann Walsh became the seventh to leave on Friday 25.

The moment every con testant dreams of tackling on the show is the iconic ‘Celebrity Cyclone’. Mike, Matt, Jill, and Owen, donned their individual coloured lycra pants for the legendary trial and off they marched to try and win those meals for camp.

Jill went first, followed by Matt, then Mike, with Owen taking the last stage. They overcame the crazy water cannons and

bouncing balls to win all four stars. England rugby star Mike Tindall was eventually evicted, nar rowly missing out on the final.

On Sunday, November 27, just three contestants remained in the jungle as the finalists on this year’s ‘I’m A Celebrity’. One out of politician Matt Hancock, soap star Owen Warner, or England Lioness Jill Scott, would end up wearing the iconic ‘jungle crown’.

Matt was the first of the three to be voted out,

leaving Jill and Owen as this year’s contenders. It was all down to the great British public now to choose the winner after watching three weeks of trials and tribulations in the Australian jungle.

Ana and Dec had the re sults on their card, with more than 12 million votes made. They announced that the winner, and new ‘Queen of the Jungle’ for 2022, was England football star, Jill Scott. Hollyoaks actor Owen was a very worthy runner up.

JUNGLE WINNER: The queen and worthy runners up.

Credit: ITV

Rosa Parks

THIS week we remember the bravery of Rosa Parks. On Thursday, December 1, 1955, the world changed forever. The then 42 year old Rosa Parks was commuting back home from work and refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Al abama bus.

Rosa was an ordinary woman on her journey home

from work, but little did she know that this would be a momentous moment in his tory that would then proceed to start what would be known as the Montgomery bus boycott.

Due to Rosa refusing to give up her seat she was fined $14 including court fees and was released on a $100 bond after being arrested.

From then the bus boycott began and came to the with drawal of 40,000 black bus riders on public transport.

Over 75 per cent of Mont gomery’s ridership was gone. Black carpools were organ

Sky high calling

GOODBYE airplane mode and hello air communications as the European Union (EU) gives airlines the go a head to install the latest 5G technology.

According to a national news outlet on Friday, November 25, the change will see passengers being able to use their smart phones during flights just as they do normal ly.

The European Commission is said to have adapted mobile legislation to bring it in line with the latest in communication technolo gy. EU Commissioner for the Internal Mar ket Thierry Breton said: “The sky is no longer

the limit when it comes to high speed, high capacity connections.

25G will enable innovative services for people and growth opportunities for Euro pean companies.”

So called ‘pico cells’ will be installed in planes which allows safe 5G coverage and connection with satellite transmitters worldwide. The ‘pico cell’ allows telephone calls, text messages and data transfer via a satellite to mobile receivers on the ground.

EU countries have been given until June 30, 2023 to make the 5G bands accessible in their respective countries.

ised by leaders at the time, such as Martin Luther King Jr, with African American taxi drivers offering their services for the same price as the bus fare 10 cents to those that were African American.

After 386 days and approval of the Supreme Court, on De cember 20, 1956, Mont gomery’s buses were then in tegrated on December 21, 1956.

Dual nationality

THE government in Spain is talking about the possibility of dual nationality for the 1.1 million Romanians that reside in the country.

According to a national news site on Wednesday, November 23, President Pedro Sánchez supported the integration of Romania into the Schengen area.

They add that he has also committed to work to wards the recognition of dual nationality for the largest group of foreigners living in the Mediterranean coun try.

Sánchez said that he wanted to thank Romanians for their contribution to the development of Spain. Many of them are already into their second and third genera tion, and the decision to create a working group to con sider the question of dual nationality will be of great in terest to them.

Currently Spain requires anyone who applies for citi zenship to renounce their current nationality, the ex ceptions to this rule being France and Portugal.

A SHOCKING heist in Germany saw thieves steal a unique col lection of Celtic coins reported ly worth several million euros from a Bavarian museum. The robbery of the collection, to talling more than 450 pieces, was discovered on November 22, when museum employees found an exhibition case bro ken.

Brazen thieves cut cable

Ancient artefacts stolen

telecommunications to carry out the heist in the early hours, with police confirming that sys tems went down at around 4am. Police noted the system breach, but sent their re sources to protect their sus pected target, local banks.

The gold coins which date back to the third century BC

were first found in 1999, and had been a central feature of a Roman and Celtic coins collec tion at the museum in Manch ing, Bavaria. The town is well known for its rich archaeology, and the loss of the collection from the Roman and Celtic museum has struck the com munity hard.

PARKS: My Story.

ImageRosa Parks

Strike over salaries

STRIKES have taken place in Portugal as public sector workers grapple with the increasing cost of living. Thousands of workers across the country includ ing doctors, teachers, and civil servants walked out of the workplace on Novem ber 18 to demand wage in creases in the 2023 budget.

A strike was called by Portuguese union, The Common Front of the Pub

THERE is anger in Aus tralia over a European Union decision, on Tues day November 22, to ban winemakers from using the name ‘Prosecco’ to sell wine in the country.

Winemakers including an Italian immigrant, Otto Dal Zotto, who is from the Italian birthplace of prosecco and who began growing the grape variety in Victoria in 1999, have vocally criticised the EU’s decision.

lic Administration Union, which represents around 50 per cent of the country’s 730,000 government em ployees. Civil servants in the country have received a pay rise of 0.9 per cent during 2022, but inflation during October passed 10 per cent in year on year fig ures.

Union coordinator, Se bastiao Santana explained the reasons for the strike,

“This year all workers have already lost one month’s salary due to inflation. We are getting poorer.”

The union is calling on the government to adjust wages in line with inflation, and establishing a mini mum monthly salary.

The industrial action fol lows similar strikes in many European countries as in flation spirals and the cost of energy continues to rise.

Wine wars

He explained “It makes me very sad and a bit an gry because we’re not do ing anything but just trying to share prosecco with the Australian public.”

Other industry profes sionals say the decision could be a terrible blow to the Australian prosec co industry which has been growing immensely

during the last decade.

The EU is seeking to ban the name for wines made in Australia as it continues to negotiate a free trade agreement with the nation. EU offi cials want to protect the term prosecco as a geo graphical indication to where the sparkling wine was made.

A PRECARIOUS situation has been resolved in Kosovo as ministers from Serbia and Kosovo reached an agree ment about a long running dispute over number plates.

The EU announced, on November 23, that the coun tries will normalise relations after Kosovo dropped an in flammatory policy that would have fined ethnic Serbs €150 for using Serbian issued number plates in the country.

Number plates

The decision by Kosovan Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, to suspend the law from coming in for a further 48 hours bought officials some time and an agreement was made on Wednesday November 23 to scrap the registration policy.

The incident was the most serious recent flashpoint in a decades long regional con

flict. Kosovo was formerly a Serbian province before declaring independence in 2008.

A substantial percentage of around 150,000 ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo remain committed to Serbia and re ject the sovereignty of Koso vo, choosing to use Serbian currency and the Serbian flag.

Woolly lawnmowers

AN unconventional gardening strategy is set to be used to tackle overgrown vineyards near to Pompeii. Italian authorities have en listed the help of a flock of sheep to tidy up the area near to the ruins of the ancient town.

A total of 150 sheep arrived in Pompeii on Thursday November 24, ready to tackle the is sue of overgrown grass as part of an experi ment to revive the ancient vineyards which were covered up for hundreds of years after the volcanic eruption in AD79. The pilot scheme will last nine months as park authori ties look to attract tourism and investment beyond the ancient ruins.

Director of Pompeii Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegal welcomed the new ar rivals saying, “The sheep entered the fields with great enthusiasm and got to work straight away.” He added that the sheep are also an investment since they provide free lawnmowing and fertiliser. Maintenance bills are usually a drain on the park’s annual bud get.

Using sheep instead of lawnmowers is be coming increasingly popular across the world as agriculturalists seek environmentally friendly solutions and look to cut back on maintenance costs.

Exclusive Interview with Jacky Trevane

JACKY TREVANE, author of ‘Fatwa: Living with a death threat’, has been living in Spain for more than 15 years.

Aged just 23, on holiday in Egypt, she fell head over heels in love with a local man, converted to Islam and married him, having two daughters, but life was not good and as a western wom an she found it impossible to cope with non stop physical and emotional abuse.

After eight years she man aged to escape back to the UK with her children, but even now, more than 40 years later, she lives under her assumed name and be lieves that if her where abouts were made known, she could be in danger.

Her book, published in 2004 by Hodder & Stoughton sold 800,000 copies worldwide and she was amazed by the response it received.

“The publishers received some 300,000 emails from women who identified with my position and felt that they too were treated as be ing invisible,” she explained.

“From those emails and with the permission and co operation of eight of the women who contacted me, I told their stories in a follow up book published a year lat er and entitled ‘Invisible Women’.”

Life goes on and with two children to bring up, a new partner and the need to work and keep busy, Jacky was involved in setting up a school in Catalonia and is de voted to music, playing the violin with orchestras and groups.

Then in 2018, she pub lished her third book, ‘My Life’ which attempts to pro vide a small window for you to sit, reflect and ask yourself at times pretty tough per sonal questions.

“Whether

for a template for a DIY auto biography or just want to pass on valuable insights and family history to your grand children this is a remarkably helpful book,” according to Jacky.

Next came the pandemic and it happened that one of her daughters was visiting from the UK and the other had been laid off by Ryanair so thought it would be great to be with mum near Grana da when suddenly they were in lockdown.

Looking for something to do, the girls said that they were going to join online dating site Tinder and per suaded Jacky to join them even though she suggested that “no one would be inter ested in an oldie like me.”

Tinder had a bit of a nega tive reputation at the time but the pandemic changed all that as people were des perate to make new friends and they did so in safety as

they couldn’t meet, but could get to know each oth er over Zoom and Facetime.

Thus, was born Jacky’s lat est book ‘Tinderella’ (pub lished by Vanguard Press) which tells the story of a 60 something woman and her adventures on three dating sites where she learns to be wary and wise as most of the men she meets (but not all) fall into the categories of Frogs, Frauds, Perverts or (Potential) Princes.

She hasn’t found that one special person yet, but she is still looking and the book is not only an amusing insight into what happened, but is an ideal guide on how to navigate these dating sites to those thinking of dipping their toe in the water.

Tinderella is now available to buy at Amazon in paper back or Kindle format and al though only recently re leased, has received nothing but five star reviews.

“Your experiences are unique and ought not to be lost to future generations. Why not record them here

for posterity and enjoy a stroll down Memory Lane in the process?

you are looking

AMUSING INSIGHT: Jacky Trevane with her new book Tinderella.

Credit: Jacky Trevane

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Conker surprise

IN a world-shattering event, not only was the winner of the 10th Copenhagen Conker Championship (which always takes place at Charlie’s bar in Copenhagen) Swedish, but she was also a woman going by the name of Elin ‘nihilation’ Giese who outplayed everyone.

THE NETHERLANDS

Critic’s award

FOR the last 12 years, lobby group Foodwatch has run a competition to name the most misleading food product and this year is no exception. Front runners are an Iced Tea brand with misleading names, a potato salad and a Kellogg’s breakfast cereal.

BELGIUM

No adverts

BRUSSELS’ Irish pub Kitty O'Shea's wanted to take a stance against Qatar but still allow sports fans to enjoy the World Cup. It decided not to turn the TVs on until kick off and turn them off at half time so no-one sees the sponsored adverts.

GERMANY

One Love

THE German Football Association (DFB) is taking advice as to whether FIFA's threat to impose a yellow card or ban on any team captain wearing the One Love rainbow armband (supporting sexual diversity) at the Qatar World Cup Finals is legal or can be overturned.

FRANCE

Mais non

THE Phyrgian red cap is a symbol of the French Revolution, but France’s Olympic Committee having chosen the cap as the Paris 2024 mascot have admitted that only 8 per cent of the souvenirs will be made in France and the rest will come from China.

NORWAY

Top tree

IN this the 75th anniversary of the supply of a Norwegian Christmas tree to London and still smarting from criticism that last year’s was tatty, Oslo Council is going all out to ensure that this year’s tree which will be in Trafalgar Square in December is top notch.

FINLAND

Keep cool

MANY cars in Finland have two electric heaters, one to warm the engine and the other the interior because the weather is so cold. Electricity company Fingrid is asking drivers not to plug in the interior heater to ensure there are no morning power cuts.

IRELAND

Craicing news

AMAZON’S Alexa can speak English with British, American, Canadian, Australian and Indian accents, but until now she hasn’t kissed the Blarney Stone and hasn’t spoken with an Irish lilt. In theory, this has all changed but whilst some Echo units can manage brogue, older versions still can’t.

ITALY

Bright idea

ON Wednesday December 7, the lights that make up the world's largest Christmas tree will be switched on to light up the slopes of Monte Ingino. Made up of 700 lights and a star, each bulb is dedicated by a local family to their loved ones.

PORTUGAL

Football fan

AS Cristiano Ronaldo captain’s Portugal in what will be his last World Cup Finals and Portuguese councils decide not to put up giant screens due to cost, the Portuguese Parliament voted to allow President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to fly to Qatar for the team’s opening match.

UKRAINE

Added art

ONE of Banksy’s seven murals painted on bomb damaged walls in Ukraine has been subject to changes by a local graffiti artist who has added an image of a Cossack and a condom. There has been a mixed reception to this addition with some Ukrainians calling it desecration.

SWEDEN

Fit gamers

WORRIED about the physical fitness and mental health of gamers, the city fathers of Helsingborg have opened FUZED, a facility of over 3,000 square metres where e-sports meets physical activity. Gamers can still play computer games, but can also play basketball or football and meet others.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Canaries expansion

SPANISH energy companies Naturgy and Equinor have signed an agreement with El Cluster Marítimo de Canarias (Canary Islands) to promote and develop actions that boost the competitiveness of the archipelago’s maritime sector and plan to participate in future offshore wind projects around the islands.

Fatally flawed

FORMER minister responsible for the Royal Mail Stephen By ers has told a public enquiry in to the prosecution of 700 sub postmasters for alleged theft that although he was not per sonally aware of the prosecu tions, he recognises that the contract for the software that accused them was “fatally flawed.”

Budget approved

THANKS to a deal done with Catalan Independence MPS, the Spanish parliament voted 187 to 156 to approve the pro posed 2023 budget which re flects the current Spanish gov ernment’s desire to assist those who are unable to cope with the mounting cost of living.

Paltry payment

AFTER staff, HMRC, bankers and administrators are paid, un secured creditors of furniture company Made.com which went bust owing a reported £187 million will receive just 1.6p in the pound and this in cludes some 12,000 customers who had paid for but never re ceived their goods.

Christmas gift

THERE is good news for 10,000 employees of Spanish insur ance company MAPFRE as after giving them a €350 bonus in Ju ly, it now plans to pay them a further €400 in time for Christ mas in order to help them cope with the extra costs of inflation.

STAT OF WEEK €900 million

Russian oil dilemma

THE West wants to set a price cap on the importation of Rus sian oil, but no one can agree on what that price should be.

The invasion of Ukraine has seen energy cost of all sorts soar but because Russia has such huge oil reserves and the West needs oil, it continues to export crude oil, currently at prices which are often lower than Brent.

The problem for the G7, EU and others such as the UK is that if they set the cap too high it won’t actually have any ma jor effect on the Russian econo my, but if set too low, then Russia could simply restrict production and force world prices up.

Russia still has friends around the world and could simply ex port its higher priced crude to them and benefit from the in creased price.

Whilst the proposed cap is somewhere between $60 and $70 a barrel, the current aver age price is $85 a barrel for Brent, but Russia is selling

cheaper than that and it is now reported that Putin is consider ing passing a new law whereby Russian oil exporters will be banned from supplying any country that signs up for the price cap!

To add to this, Russia is cur rently purchasing second hand tankers (reportedly 70 so far according to ship broker BRS) in order to get round any ban

on Western owned tankers from carrying Russian crude oil.

Effectively, whilst leaders dither, Russia continues in this area at least to ‘rule the roost’.

What is also sometimes over looked is that Russia is the world’s third largest producer of gold and with 2,300 tons in reserve, worth around $55 mil lion per ton, finance is possibly the least of Putin’s worries.

Gibraltar border agreement

THE Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, met with mayors from the Cam po de Gibraltar on Friday November 25 and told them that Spain and the Eu ropean Commission have sent the United Kingdom a proposal to make this area a zone of shared prosperity.

Albares, who had con vened the meeting to re port on negotiations with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar, reviewed the ob jectives and interests that Spain has been defending in this negotiating process, particularly for the benefit of the residents and eco nomic operators in the Campo.

During the meeting, the minister reported that Spain, together with the Eu ropean Commission, has put on the table a global proposal, which aims to es tablish a new legal frame work that lays the founda tions for a stable relationship between Spain and the EU, on the one hand, and the territory of

Gibraltar, through the Unit ed Kingdom, on the other.

This requires that Spain control, on behalf of Schen gen, the external borders of Gibraltar and that, for this, it can exercise certain func tions and powers, necessary to protect the integrity and security of the Schengen area.

If accepted by Gibraltar

and the UK, this would lead to the removal of fences along the border and free passage for visitors and workers as well as goods al though tobacco would need to be monitored due to dif ferences in price.

Despite this, Spain still maintains its claim on sovereignty and jurisdiction in relation to Gibraltar.

BRITISH company HLP Klearfold has made the bold statement that plastic packaging can be more sus tainable than paper and card board.

They argue that if you consider the lifetime of packaging and recog nise that paper is difficult to recycle if contaminated with food or other waste, there is a lot to consider.

Cardboard production requires a high amount of water, generates emissions and can encourage de forestation if not sourced sustain ably so it should be accepted that it isn’t as environmentally friendly as one first thinks.

Plastic requires around 40 per cent less energy than cardboard while also producing less waste.

Netflix expands

NETFLIX has expanded its studios in Madrid to become its largest in Europe.

The global streaming giant re cently unveiled its expanded stu dios, located in Ciudad de la Tele (Television City) in the municipality of Tres Cantos, which is located northeast of the Spanish capital.

With a total area of more than 22,000 m2 the studio boasts not only sets, but also offices for pro duction, make up, hairdressing, and costumes.

Netflix opened its first Spanish language studio in 2019, shortly af ter the Madrid filmed La Casa de Papel became its first global hit in a language other than English.

Fishing deal

THE UK fishing industry will benefit from increased fishing opportuni ties worth nearly £5 million in 2023 after reaching an agreement with Norway to secure access to key fishing stocks for UK vessels.

The deal secures quota of valu able North Sea whitefish stocks worth nearly £3 million and in arc tic stocks worth nearly £2 million for 2023 and ensures UK vessels have access to Norwegian waters to fish their own approved quota.

Most significant is the extension of arrangements agreed last year on mutual access, with the UK fish ing industry having access to 30,000 tonnes of whitefish stocks such as cod, haddock and hake in the North Sea.

is the amount that Barcelona FC expects to spend to completely remodel their Nou Camp stadium using funding from Goldman Sachs.

HUGE RESERVES: Vladimir Putin at the opening of Tuapse Oil Refinery.

SHARED PROSPERITY: The meeting in Madrid between Minister Albares and mayors.

3I Group 1.347,00 1.364,50 1.344,50 135,44K

Abrdn 207,70 211,70 205,05 627,72K

Admiral Group 2.104,0 2.126,0 2.096,0 36,69K

Anglo American 3.174,5 3.179,0 3.138,5 173,40K

Antofagasta 1.332,00 1.336,50 1.322,00 77,11K

Ashtead Group 5.082,0 5.126,0 5.040,0 41,26K

Associated British Foods 1.579,0 1.588,5 1.568,5 84,40K

AstraZeneca 10.956,0 11.000,0 10.876,0 108,22K

Auto Trader Group Plc 574,40 578,60 570,60 204,19K

Aveva 3.189,0 3.193,0 3.185,0 506,05K

Aviva 454,00 456,60 450,00 385,70K

B&M European Value Retail SA406,30 413,40 405,60 199,19K

BAE Systems 806,80 809,80 801,00 857,80K

Barclays 160,28 160,40 157,88 3,53M

Barratt Developments 400,80 406,80 399,65 67,89K

Berkeley 3.798,0 3.841,0 3.783,0 19,58K

BHP Group Ltd 2.443,00 2.449,00 2.419,00 170,05K

BP 481,65 481,85 475,05 6,42M

British American Tobacco 3.327,0 3.329,5 3.261,5 449,26K

British Land Company 405,90 409,10 402,70 176,85K

BT Group 125,85 127,80 125,35 1,68M

Bunzl 3.090,0 3.116,0 3.077,0 34,24K

Burberry Group 2.113,0 2.115,0 2.077,0 119,35K

Carnival 716,4 730,2 714,6 55,69K

Centrica 95,26 95,26 92,70 2,85M

Coca Cola HBC AG 2.047,0 2.047,0 2.023,0 53,71K

Compass 1.844,50 1.845,00 1.829,50 209,18K

CRH 3.318,5 3.336,0 3.303,0 70,20K

Croda Intl 6.854,0 6.952,0 6.840,0 14,40K

DCC 4.408,0 4.435,0 4.395,0 36,11K

Diageo 3.760,0 3.775,5 3.739,0 187,48K

DS Smith 305,80 308,70 304,40 516,74K

EasyJet 399,70 410,57 398,70 207,94K

Experian 2.938,9 2.981,0 2.919,0 156,36K

Ferguson 9.790,0 9.876,0 9.782,0 63,01K

Flutter Entertainment 11.865,0 11.910,0 11.720,0 32,31K

Fresnillo 895,20 899,00 886,80 53,75K

Glencore 531,30 532,40 524,70 4,75M

GSK plc 1.390,40 1.399,80 1.384,40 375,68K

Halma 2.256,0 2.279,0 2.244,0 55,82K

Hargreaves Lansdown 858,60 863,80 853,00 92,54K

Hikma Pharma 1.508,00 1.518,00 1.496,00 35,32K

HSBC 487,60 487,60 481,20 2,46M

IAG 134,16 135,40 132,00 1,84M

Imperial Brands 2.114,00 2.114,00 2.080,00 349,26K

Informa 609,00 612,40 605,80 177,22K

InterContinental

Intermediate Capital 1.217,50 1.232,00 1.204,50 199,14K

Intertek 4.017,0 4.039,0 4.003,0 20,83K

ITV 77,74 78,46 77,14 1,00M

J Sainsbury 224,80 226,30 223,10 543,24K

Johnson Matthey 2.114,0 2.123,0 2.067,0 32,95K

Land Securities 625,60 638,00 624,80 107,08K

Legal & General 259,60 261,00 258,00 913,48K

Lloyds Banking 46,24 46,28 45,73 8,55M

London Stock Exchange 8.074,0 8.156,0 8.046,0 25,27K

Melrose Industries 133,65 134,65 132,85 357,66K

Mondi 1.559,50 1.564,00 1.551,50 55,75K

National Grid 1.018,11 1.023,50 1.014,00 554,81K

NatWest Group 255,60 255,80 253,20 996,89K

Next 5.722,4 5.760,0 5.644,0 35,40K

Norilskiy Nikel ADR 9,10 9,10 9,10 0

Ocado 641,91 659,40 634,00 335,98K

Persimmon 1.290,0 1.308,0 1.273,8 47,09K

Phoenix 606,60 609,80 603,60 183,16K

Prudential 938,60 942,80 920,20 469,83K

Reckitt Benckiser 5.928,0 5.946,0 5.854,0 128,03K

Relx 2.318,00 2.335,00 2.305,00 180,30K

Rentokil 543,40 548,40 541,00 373,69K

Rightmove 556,40 563,00 552,80 304,48K

Rio Tinto PLC 5.341,0 5.345,0 5.277,0 216,53K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 90,74 91,56 89,64 3,95M

Sage 811,04 816,80 806,80 63,56K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.122,00 1.124,50 1.116,00 0,98K

Schroders 460,0 465,7 454,3 139,72K

Scottish Mortgage 757,59 764,80 753,80 295,28K

Segro 815,30 838,20 814,00 174,84K

Severn Trent 2.794,0 2.837,0 2.785,0 47,28K

Shell 2.338,5 2.339,5 2.291,0 1,35M

Smith & Nephew 1.085,50 1.093,00 1.077,00 584,09K

Smiths Group 1.616,50 1.620,00 1.605,00 39,96K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.305,0 11.450,0 11.265,0 5,42K

SSE 1.719,15 1.733,00 1.712,00 159,52K

St. James’s Place 1.164,00 1.174,00 1.159,00 6,11K

Standard Chartered 587,00 587,20 577,60 438,16K

Taylor Wimpey 102,70 104,15 102,05 1,08M

Tesco 233,80 235,30 232,90 1,34M

Tui 146,85 149,35 146,15 301,03K

Unilever 4.118,5 4.126,0 4.100,5 251,33K

United Utilities 1.056,50 1.079,50 1.054,50 148,68K

3M 129,04 129,82 881,74K

American Express 154,15 154,47 153,17 665,77K

Amgen 283,74 285,57 281,41 1,22M

Apple 148,11 148,88 147,12 35,17M

Boeing 178,36 178,46 174,03 3,47M

Caterpillar 235,70 237,49 235,19 1,03M

Chevron 183,70 185,30 183,31 2,80M

Cisco 48,40 49,05 48,35 8,49M

Coca-Cola 62,69 62,81 62,38 5,17M

Dow 51,56 51,82 51,42 1,65M

Goldman Sachs 388,86 389,44 385,18 1,13M

Home Depot 326,38 329,08 321,90 3,39M

Honeywell 220,05 220,96 217,74 1,12M

IBM 148,37 149,49 148,10 2,08M

Intel 29,34 29,68 29,33 11,31M

J&J 177,24 178,12 176,86 3,06M

JPMorgan 136,74 137,14 136,05 3,22M

McDonald’s 275,00 275,32 272,86 1,60M

Merck&Co 107,50 107,50 106,56 3,16M

Microsoft 247,49 248,70 246,73 9,20M

Nike 105,96 107,18 105,56 3,43M

Procter&Gamble 146,72 147,20 146,40 2,41M

Salesforce Inc 153,35 154,04 151,38 3,02M

The Travelers 188,91 189,53 187,68 514,68K

UnitedHealth 537,62 540,85 532,52 1,42M

Verizon 39,02 39,36 38,97 7,72M

Visa A 213,79 214,00 211,38 1,99M

Walgreens Boots 41,66 41,97 41,42 2,23M

Walmart 153,07 153,09 151,86 2,93M

Walt Disney 98,87 99,81 98,08 6,66M

Vodafone Group PLC 92,95 93,33 92,49 8,71M Whitbread 2.622,0 2.652,0 2.604,0 24,81K WPP 876,20 879,80 871,80 128,86K Most

Fairfax

Telecom

Most Declined

Lufax

COSCO

Co., Ltd. -11.56% 100,000

Pilbara Minerals Limited -10.32% 381,581

Livent Corporation -8.81% 5.625M

Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. -8.20% 5.408M

Bilibili Inc. -7.15% 6.2M

Lithium Americas Corp. -7.05% 3.155M

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. -6.80% 2.448M

Luckin Coffee Inc. -6.74% 1.902M

Bank of Ireland Group plc -6.71% 34,151

Futu Holdings Limited -6.51% 1.413M

Peter Loveday

Currency outlook: Pound volatile following BoE’s recession warning, US dollar falls in tandem with Fed rate hike bets

Euro

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.87 to £0.86

EUR/USD: Up from $0.98 to $1.03

The euro fluctuated over the last month, amid a mix of concerns over the war in Ukraine and bets for more aggressive interest rate hikes from the European Central Bank (ECB). At the end of October EUR exchange rates were buoyed by forecasts for a 75bps rate hike from the ECB. While the bank matched these expectations, its dovish forward guidance swiftly reversed these gains. The euro then found its feet again in the first half of November. The single currency’s neg ative correlation with the US dollar allowing it to rally as the latter weakened. However EUR’s as cent then ran out of steam amid fears Russia’s war with Ukraine might be spilling over into the rest of Europe, after a stray missile killed two in Poland. It seems safe to assume that the euro will remain sensitive to Ukraine developments over the coming month, with the ECB’s next in terest rate decision also likely to influence the di rection of the single currency.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.14 to €1.15

GBP/USD: Up from $1.13 to $1.18

BUSINESS

EXTRA

Relax rules

THE UK should use immigra tion to solve worker short ages and boost economic growth according to Tony Danker, CEO of the Confed eration of British Industry (CBI). He wants the govern ment to help companies re cruit qualified British staff.

IMF forecast

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast for 2022 Spanish GDP to 4.6 per cent but has warned that growth will be weak over coming months due to a slowdown in exter nal demand.

Animal magic

THE pandemic saw a signifi cant growth in UK business Pets at Home as customers flocked to obtain pets and although there has been a reduction in owners now, there is still a strong market despite rising costs.

Trade in the pound has been choppy over the past four weeks. Sterling initially soared as Rishi Sunak was appointed as the UK’s new Prime Minister. GBP investors were optimistic his tenure will be less tumultuous than his predeces sor, Liz Truss.

However, these gains were reversed almost immediately as a result of some particularly bleak forecasts from the Bank of England (BoE). The BoE warned the UK is facing its longest re cession on record. An improving market mood helped Sterling to recoup some of these losses in the weeks that followed, although Sterling’s as cent did not come without its hurdles.

These came in the form of some mixed UK data as well as the government’s Autumn State ment. While Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s tax and spending plans helped to restore the UK’s finan cial credibility, his confirmation that the UK is in a recession spooked investors. Looking ahead, the pound may face some headwinds in the month to come if UK data continues to point to a slow down in domestic growth.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from $0.88 to $0.83 USD/EUR: Down from €1.01 to €0.96

The US dollar has trended broadly lower over

Fears over merger

THE UK Competition and Market Authority, the CMA, fears a merger could in crease UK oil and gas costs as with less competition production costs could rise.

Well intervention services are essential services used by oil and gas operators to manage well production, provide well diagnostics and modify a well’s state or con figuration.

Two of three of the largest companies, Baker Hughes and Altus supply various well intervention services in the UK, including to opera tors active on the UK conti nental shelf.

An investigation by the CMA has found that Baker Hughes and Altus are the two largest providers of both coiled tubing and pumping services in the UK and compete very closely in the supply of these services currently.

After any merger, Baker Hughes would face competi tion from only one other major supplier Halliburton

and a small number of other suppliers that are much weaker competitors in the UK.

The CMA is therefore con cerned that the loss of rival ry between the merging companies could lead to higher prices, reduced choice and lower quality ser vices for businesses in the UK that purchase coiled tub ing and pumping services.

Colin Raftery, Senior Di rector of Mergers at the CMA, said: “Our investiga

tion showed that Baker Hughes’ purchase of Altus would take out an impor tant supplier and few re maining competitors would be left in the market. We will move to an in depth in vestigation unless the com panies can address our con cerns.”

The two parties are now required to submit mitiga tion to the CMA explaining why the takeover should not be examined more thor oughly.

the past month. The sudden reversal in the ‘greenback’s fortunes being driven by USD in vestors scaling back their expectations for future Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

This repricing of expectations was primarily at tributed to signs that US inflation may have peaked. The US reported a larger-than-expected fall in its consumer price index and producer price index in October.

An improving market mood also weakened demand for the safe-haven currency through the first half of November. Although a subse quent souring of risk appetite in response to Ukraine concerns and a spike in Chinese Covid cases has offered some support to USD ex change rates.

The Fed’s December interest rate decision will no doubt be the highlight for USD investors in the coming month. If the US central bank sur prises by delivering another 75bps rate hike we could see the US dollar surge.

Currencies Direct have helped over 430,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency trans fers.

Building safety

THERE is to be major change in the rules concerning re sponsibility for the obligations to fix unsafe residential buildings in Britain as the government intends for it to be come the responsibility of the builder rather than the leaseholder.

Proposals for how developers would pay to fix unsafe buildings have been set out by the government as it moves a step closer to imposing its new Building Safety Levy.

The government has now begun consulting developers and other interested parties on the plans, which will see an estimated £3 billion collected over the next 10 years.

Under the plan, developers of residential buildings, re gardless of their height, will have to pay the levy contri bution as part of the building control process.

Subsidised mortgages

THE Council of Ministers in Spain has adopted a package of measures aimed at the families most af fected by the rise in Euribor which influences vari able rate mortgages which has been caused by the war in Ukraine.

More than a million Spanish households will be able to benefit from this protection, approximately a third of those with variable rate mortgages, ac cording to Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño.

Whilst she suggested that the Euribor rate is still low compared to pre pandemic rates, she recog nised that many vulnerable families were worried about the additional cost of mortgages which is why the government will help them.

NORTH SEA OIL: Well intervention services are used.

MIX OF CONCERNS: The euro has fluctuated over the last month.

TURNING UP THE HEAT ON CONUNDRUMS

NORA

JOHNSON

BREAKINGVIEWS

REMEMBER the recent health warn ings about high temperatures in the UK? One day I planned a 10k run at 2pm in a fancy dress bear suit, with battery powered hair dryers inside for added warmth, while drinking gallons of hot coffee. Thank goodness the ‘authorities’ advised otherwise. Phew, who’d have thought it’d be hot in July of all months... Which reminded me of this similar conun drum:

There was a daddy camel and a baby camel who asks, “Daddy, why have I got such large eye lashes?” Daddy camel replies, “Well, son, in desert sand storms they stop the sand being blown in your eyes.” Baby camel

frowns. “Daddy, why have I got such big feet?” “Well,” replies daddy, “in the desert after sandstorms, they stop you sinking into the soft sand.” Baby camel frowns again. “Daddy, why have I got such a big hump on my back?” “Well, son, it lets you go for days in the desert without stop ping for water.” Baby camel frowns again. “Daddy, I’ve got just one more ques tion... Why am I in Blackpool Zoo?”

How to tackle conun drums like these?

Nurse, the screens please! That’s better, now we’re back on the meds. And bring that big syringe!

Nora Johnson’s 11 critically acclaimed psychological crime thrillers (www.nora johnson.net) all avail able online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audio books, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

REBECCA SERWOTKA ­ “We sell houses! It’s what we do, it’s ALL we do!” Your favourite local resale proper ty expert, of Inmobiliaria Real Estate Agents in Ciudad Que sada. Published author of ‘Moving Forward 25 Essen tial Rules For Buying & Sell ing Real Estate Without Going Crazy.’ Request your FREE copy! Fea tured on Best Buy Spain. Prestige Award Winner for ‘Real Es tate Agency Of The Year 2021/22 & 2022/23’.

Contrary to popu lar belief, December is not a bad time to sell a home on the Costa Blanca. It can

be in fact, better than spring. Most people think it’s better to wait until February or March to list a property for sale, because of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The prob lem with that is, you’ll be competing with lots of other like minded people. There is always lower inventory during the winter months (fewer properties on the market). Less com petition for you! Buyers that are house hunting in De cember and January are usually looking for the winter sun. If you have a south fac ing property, now is a great time to sell.

Rebecca Serwotka.

NoraJohnson’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Nora’s latest thriller.

LEAPY LEE

OTHERS THINK IT

STRANGE to receive occasional letters accusing me of always supporting the Conservative Party; misconceived balderdash of course. Mind you, frankly I would rather support any party than the Labour movement.

Some of us really do have to declare opposition to the utter conspiracy, now being indoctrinated by the left support ing media and its offshoots of anti right activists. Even ‘Celebrity Get Me Out’ was crammed with supporters of the left. To vie Matt Hancock no doubt! The first voted out was Ms White, and she was probably the worst of all. She posi tively hates right wingers and even seems to consider them racist.

Labour, and its raggle taggle bunch of so called politicians, has frankly come up with nothing at all likely to solve the country’s problems. In their pathetic bumbling efforts to gain popularity, they just recently actually stood up in the house and stated that were they elected they would get rid of the House of Lords.

Wow, what a great idea to solve problems that are at this time strangling the country and its citizens. To be hon

Gees a job!

est even I would like to see something take the place of the House of Lords, but not to even be contemplating changes in that direction at this mo ment, when every fibre in the UK politi cal bodies should be concentrating on emerging from the swamp of despair the country is drowning in.

This ludicrous party actually sat around a table and discussed announc ing this ridiculous scheme, during yet another time wasting meet of specious thinking. What an utter misconception and example of the ends this lot will in duce to receive votes. (Gees a job!)

Labour were also, under Blair, the ex ponents of mass immigration. To attain even more votes, Starmer is now en deavouring to attain more popularity by cutting the numbers down! You couldn’t make it up.

I do recall some years ago Qatar be gan advertising its airline on British TV. (Paying a fortune no doubt!) When it was learned that Qatar is actually pro nounced as rhyming with catarrh; the tongue twisted convulsions the media got into trying to pronounce it different ly was so ridiculous I do actually re

member mentioning it in a column. Well, now they’ve attained the World Cup, nothing’s changed. Only its citizens and Arabic fraternities announce it cor rectly, everyone else calls it Katah!

Another endeavour that has earned a money avalanche for some specific time consuming numbskull somewhere. May I repeat once again gees a job. I really would be quite good at it ya know.

Keep those letters coming; just be cause I only reply to the occasional in put, I do read and appreciate every one. Oh, and by the way. Thousands on so cial media objecting to ‘the World Cup knee!’ 100 per cent correct. Anyone lis tening? No chance.

Keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@hotmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Fri. 1pm till 4.

OUR VIEW

CIRCULAR ECONOMY CHRISTMAS

WITH less than a month to Christmas, many charities are do ing their best to raise funds in order to be able to continue with their important work.

The problem of course is that with the continuing rise in the cost of living it becomes more important that those in need (two or four legged) are helped, but equally fewer peo ple can afford to spare money as they face their own Christ mas costs.

In some parts of Spain where expatriates are known for digging deep, there have been so many charity lunches and dinners planned that they are overlapping and more than one organisation has decided to postpone their Christmas event until February where there will be less competition.

Some charities are inviting people to gift wrap toys which will then be distributed to those families which are unable to afford to buy gifts for their children and as more youngsters expect something at Christmas and then a few days later Three Kings’ Day, the cost becomes even greater.

Many children have more toys than they can ever play with and in a lot of cases as they grow, they lose interest in them, so perhaps some enterprising charity could think of ap pealing to parents and children to donate good quality, no longer wanted toys and games for those in need as an old toy for one child is a new toy for another.

The world is coming round to the concept of the circular economy where all sorts of goods are either repurposed or recycled and this is a great opportunity to let children help other children and learn from their own example.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Healthy habits

DURING the winter months, seasonal sickness es can strike and ruin your plans, but luckily there are ways to reduce your chances of catching any thing. Here we share three top tips from medical pro fessionals on how you can protect yourself against seasonal bugs.

1. Get a flu vaccine

If you are able to get a flu vaccine, take the opportu nity. In Spain, a govern ment campaign aims to vaccinate 75 per cent of over 65s and people with health conditions, as well as through private health care providers. Colds and flus are constantly evolving, so doctors recommend tak ing the annual flu vaccine as it targets current strains of sickness.

2. Practise good hygiene

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s

that good hygiene is crucial. Wash your hands before and after eating and after sneezing or coughing, avoid touching your mouth and nose often, and avoid close contact with other people that are sick.

3. Boost your immune system

Try to eat a balanced diet

containing lots of fruits and vegetables throughout the winter months.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising fre quently and getting at least seven hours of sleep per night.

You can also consider taking vitamin supplements if you have any deficiencies.

WORLD Cup fever is officially here as the matches kicked off in Qatar. And if you want to feel even more involved with the tournament, keep read ing! Here we share some health tips and tricks that World Cup stars swear by!

• Enjoy your hobbies

England star Phil Foden loves to fish during his down time, while Harry Kane and Wales captain Gareth Bale en joy a game of golf. Nutritionist, Jess Hilliard agrees “They can combat stress and anxiety and improve concentration and patience.”

• Eat vitamin rich foods

Argentinian legend Lionel Messi and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo both love seaweed. Seaweed has the nutritional stamp of approval, as a vitamin, mineral, and pro tein rich food which also con tains vital antioxidants and io dine which maintains a healthy metabolism.

• Keep your mind sharp England defender, Trent Alexander Arnold swears by activities including advanced augmented reality games and

World Cup wellness

chess to improve reactions, memory and depth percep tion. Talking about chess he said “It’s similar to football, all about strategy, tactics and dif ferent ways of playing.”

• Take a power nap England legend Eric Dier says that napping gives him an edge, “I love napping straight after training. It makes me feel better for the rest of the day.”

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during the winter is one key way you can protect yourself against seasonal bugs.

Photo credit: freshcare / shutterstock.com

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LETTERS

Letters should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com

Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

SMACK IN THE FACE

I’M so angry to read that Britain’s MPs can now also claim expens es for the cost of food, should they wish to hold any Christmas celebrations.

What a selfish, greedy, parlia ment we have! This ‘allowance’ is a blatant smack in the face for the workers on low incomes; for those who have to go through hoops to receive benefits; for those who have to take strike ac tion to receive salary increases, and for the thousands of pen sioners who, having paid tax all of their working lives, now have to exist on a totally inadequate, well below minimum wage pen sion.

The greedy MPs should hold their heads in shame. They should open their eyes to the real world and stop thinking of them selves.

They should be made to live, for at least one month, on a basic pension, from which every single household bill has to be paid. Without access to their no doubt healthy bank accounts, they wouldn’t last a week!

They clearly have no idea of the struggle low income families have, day to day. They are content to enjoy their privileged lives, with out a thought for the people who have to make a choice; whether to eat or to heat?

When will someone in the po sition to do so, take responsibili ty, and put in the effort to give EVERYONE a decent standard of living?

Maureen Gallifant

Hello Leapy

Thought I would mention yet another example of the BBC be ing out of touch with the public.

In spite of all the hours they have devoted to Party Gate on TV, radio news and especially the Today Programme, Matt Han cock has reached the final of I’m a Celebrity... on ITV.

This was the result of daily public voting.

Party Gate was bad of course but this highlights again BBC bias. I wonder if the same number of hours would be spent if there was a Labour government.

Never miss your column in EWN, thanks.

Too much time

I have read the stories in the newspaper over the last couple of weeks about the protesters defacing works of art and statues and quite frankly I think that these people have too much time on their hands to plan out these attacks. You have had your 15minutes of fame, get a job or volunteer at a charity shop.

Arthur Mancs

Way too early

Am I the only one to think that putting your Christmas decora tions up in November is just way too early. Sorry to be the Grinch of Christmas, but tradition is that you put your tree up 12 days be fore and take it down 12 days af ter. If nothing else you might save some pennies on your electricity bill.

Ethel Daniels

Be kind

My mother used to say to me if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all. Why can’t we be more like that now, these social media groups with the bitchy and nasty com ments, no one is forcing you to comment, so if you don’t like the posts please feel free to scroll past.

Please be kind.

Graham

Sally Harris

BRITAIN’S MPs: What a greedy parliament we have!

Credit: Shutterstock.com/zjtmath

Helping the homeless

THERE are an estimated 30,000 homeless people living rough in Spain.

At least half of those accord ing to the official government figures are foreigners of which British nationals represent a significant and increasing part.

The British Benevolent Fund works closely with the UK con sular network to find local so lutions or in many cases help in repatriation to the UK.

Some live in cars, others in street doorways, underground passages, and even caves.

Some have been in Spain for years. They survive from day to day by the coins given by passers by, food banks and lo cal charities, some of whom provide temporary accommo dation for cold nights, a hot shower and a meal.

Many suffer from mental is sues, depression, and despair. One such man was in his mid 70s when we were alert ed to his case. Neighbours in a rural area in northern Spain had reported a man seen at night time. The Guardia Civil followed through and discov ered that he was a British na

tional and had been living in a cave some distance from a local village. To their very great credit the villagers collected money for him for food and a sleeping bag. Someone who spoke English drove him to the nearest large town where there was a homeless charity who gave him addition al items and called the con sulate to report the case.

It turned out that the man had been living in England and had been recently widowed he had come to Spain to find their estranged son whom he believed lived in Spain.

He had run out of money al most on arrival, lost his phone and passport and been living rough for over a month. By the time a UK consular officer was able to contact him he was in considerable distress.

The British Benevolent Fund was able to fund emergency accommodation in a local hostal while the consulate was able to establish his identity and contact his local authority in England. They discovered

the man was known to social services in his area and through the consulate we were able to pay for the emer gency travel document and his repatriation back home. Some months later we received a hand written letter it was from the son.

He was writing to say thank you and to say that he was now reconciled with his father and was in regular contact. He went on to say that his father had little recollection of the time he was found living rough in Spain and just wanted to say thank you for the kindness of strangers and to the BBF for getting him home.

The BBF works tirelessly be hind the scenes to provide the financial help for people in dire financial situations.

We can only help with your generosity.

www.britishbenevolent fund.org

Seen and unseen LINDA

HALL

DECADES ago you still saw young girls riding a Vespa sidesaddle.

My neighbour Presentacion, a com fortably off widow, proudly bought her daughter, Presentacion II, a Vespa when she started work, to a combina tion of admiration, criticism and envy.

Naturally, she was instructed to ride sidesaddle, which looked ladylike and Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday al though the principle was not elegance but remaining chastely intact.

What Presentacion didn’t realise but everyone else knew, was that once Pre sentacion II was safely out of sight she sat astride the gleaming Vespa with as far as she and her boyfriend were con cerned no untoward consequences.

Presentacion madre also went through a phase of encouraging Pre sentacion hija and the younger girl, Asuncion, to greet family members and friends with the words, ‘Ave Maria Purisima’.

This, amongst the devout, prompted the response, ‘Sin pecado concebida’, but reciting the opening lines of the

Hail Mary merely labelled the girls as rather too devout.

As a rule they were met with an old fashioned look, silence or, if the duo were really unlucky, a guffaw. To gen eral relief, Presentacion eventually dropped her ostentatious piety, and I wasn’t surprised. As a lapsed and reso lutely non churchgoing Catholic even I was shocked at the overt anticlerical ism I encountered more than 50 years ago.

No one that I knew not necessarily representative of polite Spanish soci ety, I admit went to Mass. Funnily enough, they were still married in church, had their children christened in church and then, the high spot of every childhood, saw that they made their first Communion.

Little boys enjoyed the event, but were usually dressed in a sailor suit or, worse still, a monk’s habit, which was nowhere as near as exciting as dressing up as a mini bride as girls could. Fortu nately the religious ceremony was dis posed of by mid morning, allowing the adults to get down to the serious busi ness of eating, drinking, making merry and slagging off the clergy. As they still do, incidentally.

Born to power?

SALLY UNDERWOOD POLITICAL ANIMAL

A LOT is said about how politics is a play ground for those born to privilege, as well as a hotbed for nepotism.

Certainly, there do seem to be a dispropor tionately high number of husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and others who are somehow related to each other in parliament.

Let’s take Boris Johnson MP and Lord Jo Johnson of Marylebone (brothers), Maria and Angela Eagle MP (sisters), and Ellie and Rachel Reeves MP (sisters).

Former MP Nicholas Soames, as well as be ing Winston Churchill’s grandson, was related to no fewer than five former MPs. Hilary Benn MP is related to three former politicos.

If you take into account school and universi ty alumni, (five of the last 15 prime ministers went to Eton and 12 of them to Oxford) the proportion increases even more dramatically.

Is this a case then of like minded people all being drawn to the same career or evidence of a self selecting carousel of elite all keeping each other in jobs?

The overwhelming majority would proba

bly say there is some truth in it being the latter.

Common sense would certainly say that a body of people put in place to represent soci ety should at the very least come close to rep resenting the various different sections of it.

But how do you begin improving access to a broader cross section of the public?

It strikes me that one of the biggest barriers in encouraging more people to get involved in politics is that the inner working of politics seems to be, almost deliberately, opaque. For a lot of people, the thought of entering into the whole sphere seems to be too remote to even be worth considering.

Why, for example, don’t we have an educa tion system that teaches children the differ ence between what a local council does com pared to a local MP, and why any of it even matters? If knowledge really is power, how could this hurt?

It would almost certainly help too if parties instead of just contacting the public to collect their votes, also actually got in touch with them to encourage them to get involved in party level decisions.

Once people feel the whole process is a little less smoke and mirrors, you never know, we might end up with fewer Eton school mates. That really would be democracy at work.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

What’s up doc

MANY animal lovers go for a rabbit as a pet. Their calm but playful nature, low mess lifestyle and cud dly features make them an excellent pet choice. But how easy is it to keep a pet rabbit? Here we share some advice from vets on how you can have the hap piest rabbit possible!

• Breed choice

Vets in Spain recom mend researching rabbit breeds before purchasing one, but advise choosing either the Mini Lop rabbit or the Dutch rabbit breeds.

Mini Lops are small,

weighing less than 1.5 kilo grams, so are a good choice for owners with less space. Dutch rabbits adjust well to being do mestic pets, but males are recommended for their calmer nature.

• Consider lifestyle

Both breeds of rabbit al so require daily exercise and some time out of their cage, so be prepared to ex ercise your rabbit for opti mal happiness. Rabbits al so enjoy independence sometimes, cuddling them too much can be over whelming. Rabbits live for

The benefits of canine physiotherapy

PHYSIOTHERAPY can help a variety of problems includ ing spine and other neuro logic problems, arthritis, strains and sprains and post operative rehabilitation.

The life expectancy of ani mals is increasing a lot, which mainly leads to more os teoarthritis and joint and mo bility problems.

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent cause of lameness in dogs, estimating that 20 per cent of dogs older than one year are affected. Physio therapy, included in a multi disciplinary programme, is where it can bring us the greatest benefit.

A variety of soft tissue techniques (eg massage), joint techniques (eg mobilisa tions and stretching), and electrotherapy treatments (eg TENS) , lasertherapy, Ul trasound, hydrotherapy and

Treating problems.

shockwaves are incorporated into animal physiotherapy treatments. Exercise rehabili tation is also a very important part.

DAILY EXERCISE: Give your pet rabbit some out door time for optimal hap piness.

an average of eight years, so it is important to also consider whether you can commit to looking after it.

•

Rabbit health

Rabbits thrive on a diet of grass and hay with two cups of vegetables such as leafy greens per day. Keep your rabbit in a warm, dry enclosure for a great quali ty of life.

Neat and tidy

WELCOMING a pet into your home can be one of the most joyful decisions ever, but how can you keep your home just how you like it at the same time?

Muddy pawprints, little accidents or scratch marks are just some of the issues pet owners face, but worry no more! Here we share pet owners’ favourite buys to help you protect your favourite furniture while having fun with your furry friend.

1. Invest in a doormat Choosing a durable doormat can save you a lot of stress when trying to clean your floors. There are plenty of pet­friendly doormats available that are su

per absorbent, waterproof and wipe clean. Doormats or pet mats are great choic es on wooden floors if you have a pet that scratches.

2. Buy furniture covers

If your pet has a favourite place to sit or lie, cover it with a washable cover or throw. This will protect your furniture against moulting fur or oth er pet related mess. It’s much easier to machine wash sofa covers than cleaning your sofa every other day!

3. Choose a comfortable pet bed

The easiest way to keep your pet off your furniture is by giving them a warm and comfortable bed and teaching them to use it.

Perfect dog breed

CHOOSING the perfect dog breed for you and your lifestyle can be a tricky decision, there seem to be so many dif ferent options and so many questions.

Here we offer some advice so you can find your dream four legged friend.

Do lots of research

As well as looking on line or in a book, it is best to do some in per son research when choosing your pet dog. Try a dog meet and greet event so you can interact with different dog breeds and see how you get on before mak ing your decision. You can also speak to dog owners or vets about different dog breeds and their experiences.

Consider your lifestyle

If you are a highly ac tive person, having a dog that doesn’t like exercising can be frustrat ing. Likewise, if you are

unable to walk a dog each day, an active breed would be a poor choice. Also consider factors such as space in your home and the breed’s social tempera ment.

Consider your expecta tions

Think about what you want to get out of hav ing a dog, how much time can you commit to looking after it? It is also important to think about the breed’s needs, such as how much you will need to spend on food and healthcare.

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There are so many different dog breeds to choose from, follow these tips to find your ideal canine companion.

Photo credit: Irina Kozorog / shutterstock.com

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byMarkSlack

IT’S rare these days to have a completely new marque launch, let alone one that isn’t part of an existing car company. Not too long ago we saw In eos and their Grenadier and now we have ORA, or to be more precise the ORA Funky Cat First Edition. I know! Move on from the name though and this Chinese built all elec tric car might be about to make inroads into the EV market in the UK. It’s not a price sharpened budget conscious model either, it’s very much aimed at those looking for some thing a cut above and competes with the likes of VW’s ID3 and Hyundai’s Kona EV.

ORA are not new to the car game, being part of Great Wall Motors that used to sell pick up trucks in the UK, having five

Impressive, premium & loaded

It is very tech orientat ed, some of it too much when the navigation sys tem gives you about eight direc tions just to negotiate a round about. Howev er, engi neers were still tweaking the systems on the press

Facts at a Glance

Model: ORA Funky Cat First Edition

Engine: 171 PS EV powertrain with 48kwh battery

Gears: automatic Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 8.3 seconds/Maxi mum Speed 159kph (99 mph)

Economy: 310 km/193 miles Combined driving (WLTP)

Emissions: 0 g/km (WLTP)

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

brands under their corpo rate umbrella. Apart from the ORA Cat, the company is already showing con cepts for its second car, the Next Cat, which looks very sophisticated with Al fa echoes in the frontal styling and panamarian rear flanks.

The First Edition model is, as the name suggests, the first of a planned line of models and prices for the launch car start from €37,215/£31,995 which in cludes a profusion of stan dard equipment and a dis tinctly premium feel throughout the interior.

The drive is smooth and quiet with a decent amount of power when required, although the one foot driving/regenera tion doesn’t offer quite as much braking as one might have thought, so two foot driving is some times needed. Rough roads don’t phase the Cat and although the steering

is a little lifeless, there’s enough to safely quicken the pace on cross country roads.

Based on 15 per cent to 80 per cent, a 6.6kW home charge will take five to six hours. This time reduces when moving up to 11kW charging to around three to four hours. Additional ly, 80kW rapid charging will take around 40 min

utes. The Cat First Edition has a range of 193 miles. Although subjective, the Cat looks different without being odd, has a premium feel, lots of standard equipment and, despite a small boot, is a bigger car than you might think.

Good value for its admit tedly not cheap price, it nonetheless makes a most impressive start.

ORA FUNKY CAT: The First Edition, although not cheap, makes a most impressive start.

Keeping its value

Betty Henderson

STRUGGLING to choose your next car? A new re port could make that deci sion much easier. The brand new report from a used car marketplace has revealed the cars that lose the least value over the years. Here we share the fascinating results of the research.

• Cars losing the least value

The Jeep Wrangler leads the list of cars losing the least value over five years in Spain, with its value de preciating four times slow er than the average rate.

The Wrangler is closely followed by several sports car models including the Porsche 911, Chevrolet Ca maro, Ford Mustang, and Subaru BRZ, which all saw demand increase during the pandemic.

Other conventionally popular cars including the Honda Civic, the Nissan Versa, and Toyota Corolla

also retained significant value over a five year peri od, largely due to their reputations as reliable cars, efficient fuel con sumption, and compact styles.

the highest value deprecia tion rate in Spain. Luxury and large models suffered faster depreciation rates due to higher fuel con sumption rates.

Emission zone rules

NEW legislation to tackle cli mate change in Europe is set to transform the future of driving in the continent, and Spain is no exception. In fact, from next year, new legisla tion from the Spanish Driving Authority, the DGT, will ban the most polluting vehicles from urban areas in the coun try.

What is the new law?

The Climate Change and Energy Transition Law obliges Spanish cities with more than 50,000 residents to take ac tion to improve air quality through Low Emission Zones, known as ZBE’.

How many places will be affected?

A total of 149 large towns and cities in Spain will be re quired to comply with the Low Emission Zone policy.

fected?

Up to 30 per cent of vehi cles on the roads could be re stricted in their urban move ments. Vehicles have been classified into a colour code by the DGT for which they

will receive a coloured sticker. Most vehicles will still be al lowed in urban areas, but some diesel and petrol fu elled cars will not be allowed or may enter but are not per mitted to park.

•

Cars

losing the most value

At the other end of the scale, the report found that the BMW 7 Series has

The report also noted that poorer treatment of luxury cars premium fea tures also harmed their value retention five years after being bought.

Similar rules have previously affected the biggest cities in the country including Madrid and Barcelona, but this is the first time a sweeping mea sure will be applied.

Which vehicles will be af

Photo credit: lendy16/ shutterstock.com

JEEP WRANGLER: Lost the least value in the Spanish car market over the past five years.

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