Costa de Almeria 8 - 14 December 2022 Issue 1953

THE Age Support Christmas Fayre in the Arboleas sunshine raised a whopping €1,675 for the charity, to assist in its aim of improving the quality of life for older people in the Almanzora area.

Hundreds of people visited the fayre and enjoyed the live entertainment and shopping at the huge variety of stalls. The bottle tombola, run by Bev and Helen from Age Support, was a real draw.

Santa arrived and there was a free bouncy castle, kindly organised by the town hall.

The mayor, Maria del Mar Vazquez, as well as many Almerians, children and adults, surrounded the Casa de las Mariposas on Friday, December 2, to witness the great Christmas light switch on.

The mayor confirmed: “The town hall wants the Christmas atmosphere to be experienced with joy

Breeze FM hosted with Christmas music and they introduced Steve Jackson, 2CC and the All Aloud Community Choir who entertained with carols and well known Christmas songs to sing along to.

Vanya, President of Age Support Almanzora, is now preparing the second annual Christmas Gala on Friday, December 9, at La Parrilla, a gala dinner with wine, entertainment by Abba solutely Fabulous, hosted by Breeze FM with a special guest. Tickets are €27.50 from the Age Support shop in Albox or call Vanya on (+34) 642 045 210.

Christmas lights

until January 6.”

While the orchestra delighted with their music on Friday, all eyes were fixed on the ‘Mapping’ with Christmas motifs on the Casa de las Mariposas.

Technology created different creative 3D compositions on the walls of the building, showing Father Christmas, reindeer, the traditional mistletoe and other elements of the holiday season.

ILLUMINATED: Many people turned out to watch.

Image:

THE joy of Christmas spreads throughout the city of Almeria which is illuminated with more than a million LED points that shine brighter than ever.

Image: Almeria City Council

SUPER SUCCESS

Recycling refund

PIONEERING project in Almeria has brought a pair of hi­tech recycling machines to Almeria City centre, the council announced on November 30.

The machines reward locals for recycling by giving points

out for recycling different items which can be exchanged for various interesting prizes.

The machines work through an app which users download and use to scan the barcodes on recyclable items. Users

then scan a QR code on the recycling bin, before throwing their rubbish inside, collecting points which can be exchanged for exciting rewards.

Users can also donate their points for recycling to the Isabel Enrique Díaz Foundation for their campaign to collect baby food and toys for vulnerable local children.

The innovative machines, designed by environmental NGO, Ecoembes, and are set to be installed in the popular Mercado Central and the other will be at the Palacio de Juegos Mediterráneos. The machines have a distinctive bright yellow design.

Plans for stations

VERA is closer to getting its future station for the AVE high speed train.

Adif, Spain’s state­owned railway infrastructure manager, has announced the specifications for a €955,324 contract to design the Coto de Vera station which will cover the Levante and Almanazora area.

As well as a building with entrance hall, ticket office, departure lounge, toilets, dressing rooms and a shop amongst other services, the station will also have parking for ‘at least’ 100 vehicles. A new road will link the new station to the A ­ 1200 on the outskirts of central Vera.

These plans substitute those originally drawn up by the Ferrer­Clothos company between 2011 and 2012.

The project will be divided into two phases, the first involving a preliminary

draft detailing the procedures and activities needed for building the new station. This includes the compulsory purchases of land for the station as well as temporary occupation of plots required for storing equipment and machinery.

The second phase will centre on visits to the site and preparing reports and procedures related to issues arising from the plans that could later be raised by the site manager.

Linda Hall

CUEVAS DEL ALMANZORA Town Hall and local businesses will be giving away €3,000 in prizes over the Christmas period. “Between December 12 and January 5 anybody making a purchase in a participating shop could win vouchers worth €50, €100 or €200,” said Commerce councillor Melchora Caparros.

“The prizes total €1,500 and more than

Christmas prizes

70 local businesses are taking part.”

Local businesses are also organising a Christmas Gymkhana between December 26 and 30 where participants, armed with a list of clues, will have the chance of hunting down gift packages worth

€1,000. There will also be a special prize of €500 waiting to be located.

Caparros explained that the packages contain items donated by Cuevas shops although the €500 cheque will be provided by the town hall.

HIGH SPEED: Vera station getting closer.

Shutterstock-com/ Sergii Figurnyi

NIBS EXTRA

Don’t bother

INSTALLING underground rubbish containers in Almeria City’s Plaza Masnou, halted when excavations revealed archaeological remains, has resumed. The Junta’s Culture department explained that the discoveries from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, which were already ‘deteriorated and fragmented’ by telecommunications conduits and sewage pipes, were not worth saving.

Not here

LUCAINENA DE LAS TORRES residents and members of a Platform created to protect the area formed a human chain on Thursday December 1, protesting against plans for a solar power plant 800 metres from the town. The plant would impact brutally on the environment, landscape and tourism, they warned.

Fair shares

TWENTY legal professionals demonstrated outside the Almeria’s court complex on Tuesday November 29, giving visibility to their demands for the salary boost promised by the Ministry of Justice following increased responsibilities. The former court secretaries, earned €1,000 less than judges and public prosecutors, they complained.

No go

BY late November, it was impossible to buy a MadridAlmeria rail ticket on either December 23 or 24, with seats available only for passengers with reduced mobility. The Railways Defence Group complained that Spain’s rail operator RENFE increased trains at holiday times for other provinces “but never Almeria.”

Late start

WORK began on the Las Palmeras roundabout in front of Garrucha’s Mediterraneo high school. Mayor Maria Lopez explained the contract was awarded before the summer but the town hall needed Junta authorisation before making a start on the €312,573 project.

SPORTING SYNERGY as Huercal­Overa Council announced a new partnership with Rugby Huércal­Overa Sports Club to bring rugby closer to local young people. Through the new collaboration, the council is set to provide funding and promotion for the club, increasing access to the sport.

The partnership which was launched on Thursday December 1 means the council will support the provision of rugby training sessions for all the groups the club currently caters to, from age six up to

THE mayor of Almeria, Maria del Mar Vazquez, attended the ceremony on the occasion of Andalucian Flag Day on Sunday December 4.

This is the first time the event has been held after the Andalucian Regional Government approved December 4 as the date for this commemoration as it coincides with the demonstrations that took place on December 4, 1977 in favour of An ­

Vote for Mojacar

senior youth categories. The council will also contribute towards other club costs includ­

ing pitch and equipment maintenance as well as training and competition activity

Flag Day

dalucian autonomy.

A quartet from the Orchestra Ciudad de Almería (OCAL) opened the celebration with several performances, this was followed by the Andalucian anthem and the hoisting of the flag, which put the icing on

Fab fashion

New rugby union Let it snow

THE Dames of Turre held their November meeting at the Hostal Rural in Turre on Tuesday November 29.

Helen from Oasis fashion shop came and displayed a selection of clothes and accessories from her shop that is situated on Mojacar Playa.

Helen also gave a very interesting demonstration of different ways of wearing scarves and pashminas. The Dames were then invited to ask questions about their individual fashion problems.

At the end of the meeting several members made purchases for themselves and for Christmas presents. The Dames would like to thank Helen for a very enjoyable morning.

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.

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

costs. Local residents have already taken to Facebook to express their interest in signing up for the club, showing great signs for the partnership going forward.

As well as coaching young people in the sport, Rugby Huércal­Overa have spoken about the values they aim to instill in local youth, including friendship, passion, dedication, respect, and good sportsmanship. The club offers several levels of training, depending on age group for children, as well as senior adult teams.

the cake for the Andalucian Flag Day. Almeria councillor, Aranzazu Martin pointed out that “the Flag of Andalucia appears among us devoid of any ideology, becoming the ensign of the Andalucians who work hard, who strive and who improve every day, showing themselves as they are, in our own way, with our way of living life, of feeling and seeing things.”

MOJACAR is now a finalist in Ferrero Rocher’s Juntos Brillamos Mas (We shine more together) Christmas competition.

Ainsa (Huesca), Santillana del Mar (Cantabria) and Mojacar are competing for the prize of Christmas illuminations provided by the chocolate company after making it through to the final three following the first round of voting which finished on November 30.

Members of the public now have until 11.59pm on December 11 to vote on the https://pueblos. ferrerorocher.es/ website, announced Mojacar’s mayor Rosa Maria Cano.

“In this new phase, all the people who voted before should vote again, using the same link or QR code,” she said.

The mayor and town hall thanked all the Mojacar and Almeria Province residents for their collaboration, together with the thousands of people, celebrities, journalists and sportspeople supporting the town’s Ferrero Rocher bid.

SEVENTY­NINE operatives and 31 vehicles will be working this winter to keep Almeria Province roads clear of snow.

Vehicles allocated to the Winter Roads Plan include six snowploughs with another two in reserve should they be needed in an emergency.

The province’s three road maintenance centres in mountain areas have also been provided with 878 tons of salt between them.

Although on call throughout the province during the winter months, the teams will be focusing on the 307 kilometres of roads in areas that are most likely to be affected by ice and snow.

Priority will be given to

mountain sections of the A­ 92 and A­ 92N, together with less ­ used roads including the A ­ 317 between Velez Rubio and Granada Province and the Puerto de la Virgen and Puerto de Lubrin passes.

Mojacar also has the backing of the Diputacion provincial council, Almeria Province mayors, and the former UGT union leader Candido Mendez.

Cano thanked everyone for their support.

Councillors smile with a Rugby Huercal-Overa representative as the two reach a new agreement for youth sports

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Huercal-Overa (Via Facebook)

Long weekend

SPAIN’S December long weekend leaves a hotel occupancy rate of around 50 per cent in the province of Almeria.

Tuesday December 6 is celebrated in Spain and is known as Dia de la Constitucion which celebrates the Spanish Constitution and on Thursday December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception ‘Inmaculada Concepcion’ is celebrated. It was hoped that both of these major bank holidays would create a hotelier boom.

Throughout the week prior to the bank holidays, hotel figures stayed stable at around 40 per cent.

After a good summer and some events that have allowed occasional peaks in occupancy (the Magna Procession, the David Bisbal concert), the truth is that the December long weekend has not been positive, especially when it is compared to last year. When the Junta

de Andalucia opened after the pandemic hotel occupancy was close to 75 per cent. While the rest of Spain

experienced storms, the weather in Almeria remained calm, which always attracts more tourists.

Historical centre competition

Betty Henderson

A CREATIVE competition is seeking to find the most special historical centre of a town in Almeria, and there are already plenty of votes since the contest opened on November 25.

A competition launched by the College of Architects has compiled a list of 14 local towns in their quest to find the most special old town in the Almeria region.

An online vote is now open to the public until Tuesday December 13 at: https://www.ondacero.es /emisoras/andalucia/alme ria/audios­podcast/masde ­ uno ­ almeria/quepueblo­almeriense­tienecasco­historico­mas­bonito ­ provincia ­ vota ­

favorito_2022112563809d 740779b00001224d3d.ht ml

Councils from towns featuring on the list have taken to social media to encourage locals to vote for their towns, since winning the competition could lead to amazing investment opportunities, architectural interest and increased tourism.

The list includes current favourite Terque which has almost 6,000 points in the vote.

The town is highlighted for its unique cavehouse architecture that features throughout the old town, as well as beautiful townhouses including the famous ‘Los Caballitos’.

Social inclusion

THE mayor of Almeria, Maria del Mar Vazquez, on December 4, participated in the presentation ceremony of the FAAM de Oro as part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which is commemorated every December 3, a date proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992.

The Federation, which is celebrating its 34th anniversary this year, wishes to recognise the work and commitment of people, entities and companies that in their different fields have

promoted the social inclusion of people with disabilities, a group that in Almeria Province totals 44,119.

Valentin Sola, president of FAAM, thanked the “invaluable collaboration of companies, etc in the work carried out by the association in favour of people with disabilities,” acknowledging his “joy at meeting again so many people in this event that recognises the work of companies, individuals, groups, associations, supporting people with disabilities."

Swearing in of flag

THE mayor of Almeria, Maria del Mar Vazquez, has encouraged the people of Almeria to take part in the historic ceremony of the Swearing in of the Flag for civilian personnel to be held on Sunday, December 18, in Las Almadrabillas Park, organised by the ‘Rey Alfonso XIII’ Legion Brigade and Almeria City Council.

The mayor confirmed: “We are aware of the

Armed Forces’ essential work to protect us and help us when they are required.

“The Swearing­in was a request from the people of Almeria that in a few weeks will become a reality and for this reason I would like to sincerely thank the Legion for its involvement in this and all the other initiatives that we frequently carry out.

“Those of us who take

part in this act will show our loyalty to the national flag, the greatest symbol of Spain, as well as our identification with the Armed Forces,” encouraged Vazquez, highlighting once again the “close bond that exists between Almeria and La Legion, a bond that we want to continue to strengthen and now we are highlighting with this Flag Swearing­in.”

Sporting support

A MAJOR boost for sports clubs in Almeria as the city council announced a grant of €400,000 on December 1. The funds will be divided by 64 local sports organisations including school sports, clubs and regional sports federations.

Almeria City Council presented the funding to representatives from some of the clubs that will benefit from the initiative at a ceremony on Thursday December 1.

Councillor for Sports, Juanjo Segura opened the event saying, “We want to make our support for sports in Almeria very clear, as well as congratulating the teams and clubs that

proudly represent our city. This grant shows our commitment to creating a healthy society, but also one full of talent.”

Local people will enjoy opportunities to get involved with a wide variety of sports as the 64 organisations offer more than 20 different sport disciplines. The council has also created a goal to improve sports facilities, so local people have the best access to sporting opportunities possible.

School sports have also been targeted in the funding increase to improve youth access to sports and building lifelong healthy habits.

Christmas cheer

Henderson CHEERY Christmas programme in Cuevas del Almanzora with a packed schedule of events over the festive period.

A programme released on Thursday December 1 unveiled an exciting catalogue of activities with something to appeal to everyone over the festive period.

The programme kicked off on Saturday December 3 at the Christmas light switchon, a staple of the festive

calender, which also saw the local nativity scene revealed to the public. The programme will now run until King’s Day with the iconic king’s parade on January 5.

Events in the programme include special cinema showings, Christmas carol concerts, musical and dance performances, Christmas parties, theatre shows, sports activities, activities for children, and cultural and tourist activities.

Deputy mayor, Miriam

Quintana explained “Our varied schedule of events will reach every corner of the town, spreading the festive spirit.”

The festive fun continues for shoppers from December 12, as the council holds a prize draw for huge vouchers to spend in local businesses. Shoppers could win vouchers of up to €200 to spend in more than 70 local businesses by simply spinning a prize wheel after making a purchase.

Betty

PACKED SCHEDULE: Cuevas del Almanzora launched a varied Christmas programme with something for everyone!

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Cuevas del Almanzora

Parking passes

AN inventive initiative in Almeria is set to give local businesses a perfectly timed boost. A new scheme will offer businesses in the city centre 8,000 discounted parking tickets which they can offer to shoppers during the Christmas period, promoting shopping locally.

The scheme, announced on December 1, has offered hotels in Ashal and businesses in the city centre the discounted parking passes which they can distribute among their customers to stimulate spending over the period. The tickets will allow shoppers to park for free for an hour in the key commercial areas,

GRAB your trainers as the registration period for the Almeria Half Marathon, which will take place on February 5, is now open and has a participation limit of 2,000 runners.

Almeria is getting ready to welcome the new year with the celebration of one of the most awaited sporting events of the year. This is the Half Marathon ‘Memorial Ramon Ruiz Andujar’ which, after being on pause due to the restrictions of the Covid­19 pandemic in 2022, has returned to delight runners.

This is an urban foot race of 21,097 metres and anyone can sign up, whether federated or not, as long as they are over 18 years of age. Registration can be made through the

providing a much­needed push for local businesses as they try to compete with huge internet marketplaces. The scheme has been timed to coincide with the busiest time of year for businesses in the city centre.

Councillor for Security and Mobility, María del Mar García Lorca, explained that the scheme is an example of the council’s support for local business, “This is one more step towards promoting local business and revitalising Almeria City centre after a difficult few years, by taking advantage of these crucial dates in the commercial calendar.”

Half marathon

website www.cruzandolameta.es and the deadline for applications is January 25, 2023 at 1.00pm.

IT’S BACK: To the delight of the runners.

Image: Almeria City Council

Hello campers

LOOKING for like­minded campers to share tips and have fun? If you have a motorhome, caravan or tent and enjoy meeting new friends, you may be interested in joining the ACE group.

Dotted about Spain, the group is made up of mostly British expatriates, but all nationalities are welcomed with open arms.

The best part is that there are no joining or membership fees whatsoever and to join the

group all you have to do is attend a rally, which they try to have on a monthly basis. After being with the group for a year it is requested that you volunteer to host a rally, which can be done jointly with other members.

If you are interested in receiving more details about the group, please contact Pauline by email on acerallies@gmail.com or by mobile /WhatsApp on (+34) 617 114 933.

The written word

THE Written Word Group are looking for fellow writers and lovers of the written word to join them.

The brains behind the group are writers Berni Albrighton and David Holman­Hill Waters.

Berni moved from the UK to Spain over two years ago. In 2013 she self­ published her book ‘The Old Man of Tiritiri Matangi’, which was inspired by 12 months of volunteering on

a conservation island in New Zealand.

During a recent conversation with fellow writer, David Holman­Hill Waters, the pair decided to create an opportunity for lovers of writing to come together.

From January 13 next year every Friday from 10.00am until 1.00pm at the Almanzora Group of Friends library in Albox they will meet to talk

about their writing, share ideas and see what develops. They would welcome people who like to write, whether that be poetry, stories, scripts, or anything in the format of the written word, and think that a get ­ together with likeminded creative individuals could be of interest.

For more information contact Berni Albrighton by email at: balbrighton@ gmail.com.

The UK Autumn Budget

Having taken the decision to scrap the September mini budget, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt released his Autumn Statement 2022 on 17 November, with key aims to promote stability, growth and public services.

This budget focused on stability and fiscal sustainability – with plans to ensure the national debt falls over the medium term. The reduced debt should allow for more significant investment in public services, support the Bank of England’s efforts to curb inflation, and give greater confidence to businesses as they continue to invest and grow in the UK.

Income tax, National Insurance Contributions and other relevant tax rates

The income tax personal allowance, higher rate threshold, national insurance contributions (NIC), upper earning limit and upper profits limit were already frozen at 2021 lev

By Jon Pemberton, Partner, Blevins Franks

Freezing allowances and thresholds is often referred to as ‘tax by stealth’ since it increases taxation without putting up tax rates. Thousands more people will now pay more tax as wages increase alongside inflation.

The NIC threshold was raised from £9,880 to £12,570 in July, and the Social Care Levy (a 1.25% tax to

As previously confirmed, from April 2023 corporation tax will increase to 25% for businesses with profits over £250,000.

Additional tax rate threshold, dividend allowance and capital gains

The autumn budget states that “the fairest way to restore the public finances is to ask everyone to contribute a little, with those on the highest incomes and those making the highest profits paying a larger share”.

With this principle in mind, the additional rate tax threshold will reduce from £150,000 to £125,140 from 6 April 2023.

The Dividend Allowance will reduce by half – from £2,000 per tax year to £1000 from April 2023 – and halved again to £500 in 2024.

The Capital Gains Tax Annual Exempt amount will be more than halved – from £12,300 to £6,000 on 6 April 2023 – and similarly reduced

would allow you to take advantage of the higher threshold.

Inheritance tax

The inheritance tax thresholds will also remain frozen for a further two years until April 2028. The general nil rate band remains £325,000 (unchanged since 2009) and residential nil rate band at £175,000. More families will get caught in the IHT net and lose more of their inheritance to tax.

Property considerations

The cuts in Stamp Duty Land Tax announced in September increased the threshold from £125,000 to £250,000 for residential property purchases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to £425,000 for first-time buyers. These changes have now been declared temporary and will end on 31 March 2025.

The Annual Charge for Enveloped

ATED is an annual tax typically paid by companies that own UK residential property above £500,000.

Looking ahead

With a new Prime Minister, new Chancellor and a fresh budget designed to tackle the various economic challenges, hopefully these tough measures will achieve the growth and stability the government is aiming for. It will, however, be a difficult winter for many.

With regards taxation, even if tax rates do not go up over the coming years, the fact that so many allowances and thresholds are frozen will have long-term implications. Getting reliable financial advice is more important than ever.

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; in-

Glittering business event

THE Euro Weekly News is marking the end of another busy year with a sparkling business event in collaboration with the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain at Puente Romano, Marbella, on Friday December 16.

Bringing together their clients from across Spain, the Andalucia business event will see guests served canapes and cocktails alongside live entertainment, a rare moment for the business community to come together and simply celebrate the year’s achievements.

The Euro Weekly News is a proud member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, an organisation which works tirelessly to promote vital trade links between Spain and the UK.

Founded in 1908 as an initiative of the British Embassy, the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain is one of the largest chambers of commerce in the world.

It is the only independent British­Spanish business organisation in Spain, and still works with the British Embassy, holding regular meetings with British Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott, as well as British commercial services (UK Trade and Investment) and Spanish comercial abroad (ICEX).

The chamber has offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella, and most recently Bilbao, and a total of 300 members, including multinational companies as well as SMEs.

Its work includes organising business events, publishing research studies,creating

committees to support the interests of members, and promoting the business activity of its members through media platforms and communication channels.

British Chamber of Commerce Regional Vice­President Derek A Langley said: “We greatly look forward to welcoming you to our very enjoyable event, where you can meet old and new business contacts and friends from across the Costa del Sol business community, and have a chance to mingle, network, and celebrate the end of a successful business year at one of Spain’s most glamorous locations.”

DEREK LANGLEY: The regional vice president works to promote business across Andalucia.

Betty Henderson

SPAIN are pioneers in gender equality as the country registered the fourth largest proportion of female inventors in Europe, setting an impressive precedent. Figures released on November 30 revealed almost 24 per cent of people registering new patents in Spain are women, soaring

Female first

ahead of most European countries.

In data collected by the European Patent Office, women register just 13.2 per cent of

patents on products, but Spain stood apart with a rate of 23.2 per cent. Data revealed that Lithuania topped the list of female inventors, with more than 30 per cent of new patents registered by women. Portugal came second with 27 per cent, followed by Croatia with 25 per cent, before Spain in fourth place.

Analysts explained that al­

though this is good news for gender equality in Spain, there is still a remarkable gender disparity in patent registrations throughout the continent. There has been a significant growth in women registering patents since 1978, when just 2 per cent were requested by women.

The organisation say more must be done to ‘promote inclusion’ in invention.

Pope’s physio

POPE FRANCIS is currently receiving care from a top physiotherapist from Atlético Madrid’s medical team. The head of the Roman Catholic church reportedly sought help from the football medic for an arthritic knee at the end of November.

The Pope’s knee had been causing him increasingly severe mobility issues during the last few months, which caused him to cancel a trip to Africa. Pope Francis has opted to use a wheelchair or walk

Industrial innovation

ENVIRONMENTAL advance from beer manufacturer Heineken as the firm announced its latest venture to convert its Valencia factory to use solar power. The brand launched the project on December 1, saying that the factory will build a solar plant that will be operational from June 2023.

The solar plant means that the brand’s factory at Quart de Poblet will transition to become completely self-sustaining, thanks to Feder Funds which are being used to fi-

nance the project. As part of the deal, Heineken will pay for the solar energy used for the next 15 years.

The solar energy generated at the plant will be used in the heating and packaging processes used to create beer in the factory.

The decision comes as the brand aims to become carbon neutral by 2025 and has a multi-pronged strategy in place to achieve the ambitious goal.

with a stick since the issues intensified in June.

Speaking about the treatment, Atlético Madrid head medic, José María Villalón described the Pope as “very nice” but also “stubborn”, as he refused to have knee surgery.

Villalón has an extensive history of treating footballers’ injuries as he has been with the club since 1995, and expressed his optimism that the Pope’s knee condition will improve.

The Argentinian Pope is famously a big football fan, but for his home team of San Lorenzo, from Buenos Aires.

POPE FRANCIS: The football fan enlisted the help of an Atlético Madrid doctor for his arthritic knee.

Photo credit: neneo / shutterstock.com

THE first documented instance of a migrant accessing Melilla from Morocco using a paraglider has been recorded.

On Thursday, December 1, a migrant managed to bypass the double fence that separates Melilla from Morocco by using a paraglider. It might have happened previously, but this is the first documented incident where a migrant has accessed the North African Spanish enclave utilising such a method.

According to a spokesperson for the Government Delegation, the incident occurred: “around 6.15pm in the after-

Flying in

noon. Two citizens who were driving along the ring road notified the security operations centre (COS) of the Guardia Civil Command of the entry of a paragliding migrant in the vicinity of the Nano River.”

Guardia Civil patrols were immediately deployed to the area: “but they have not been able to locate the migrant,” the same source admitted to a national news outlet.

Antibiotic shortage

THE Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products has announced on the online drug information centre CIMA that there are 22 shortages of different amoxicillin drugs in tablets, powder, and hard capsules.

Amoxicillin oral suspension has arrived at pharmacies in Alicante such as Malluguiza, while amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in suspension, also for children,

has been out of stock for two days, reported local Spanish press.

The antibiotic is one of the 627 medicines that are suffering from supply problems in pharmacies amid a wave of respiratory viruses, especially among children, with shortages also reported in Portugal and France. Amoxicillin is a broad­spectrum antibiotic medication widely used to treat bacterial infec­

tions, such as sore throat, sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and pneumonia in children. Laboratories are beginning to release batches, especially for children, although it will still take time for the situation to normalise after weeks of shortages of the drug in pharmacies, this has coincided with the wave of bronchiolitis in Spain, which is collapsing hospital emergencies.

Anne Hernandez of Brexpats in Spain International

BREXIT had repercussions for all Brits in Spain, from holidaymakers to residents and business owners to snow birds.

This is why Anne Hernandez MBE, founder of Brexpats in Spain (now Brexpats in Spain International) wanted to create a place to tackle some of that misinformation and help those whose lives ­ and livelihoods ­ had been affected by Brexit.

The Euro Weekly News sat down with Anne to discuss the inspiration behind the group ­ which now has more than 40,000 members ­ what it does, and its plans for the future.

Anne explained: “I came here in 1999 with my mum and daughter.

“My mum used to go to a local social group in Mijas and over time she would pass queries people had in the group about living in Spain on to me. I ended up with so many I created a Facebook group to help people.

“After my mum died, Brexit happened. I was never political, but I wanted to do something to help and I went to speak to former Mijas mayor Juan Carlos Maldonado, who said we should set up a local group, which became Brexpats in Mijas. Within a month, we had 1,000 enquiries from across the

country, so we made it Brexpats in Spain.

“When we first started, we sought experts in different fields including taxation, insurance, medical, legal, education, to help tackle misinformation and give people the help they needed.”

After helping expats with issues with everything from driving licences to residencia, Brexpats has for the last year been campaigning hard on local voting rights for foreigners.

She explained: “For many of us, if we’ve been out of the country for 15 years we can’t vote in UK, EU, Spanish national elections. For many this will be the only election they can vote in.”

While British residents in Spain will now be able to vote in next year’s local elections, Anne warned: “You had to have proof of residency at the time of registering. If you don’t, we know that some people are being sent away and told to go to the National Police station to get extra documentation. We have forms to prove you are a permanent resident.

“The problem is the window to register is only until January 15. Keep an eye on the group for updates as the window is short.”

The group is also now joining together with other international expat groups to push to get the

UK’s Votes for Life bill through to secure lifelong voting rights for expats.

Alongside voting rights, Brexpats is continually innovating and finding ways to bring the expat community together; as well as to tackle some of the biggest issues facing Britons in Spain.

She told the EWN : “Many people can find themselves isolated here, which is why we now have seven groups overall for all sorts of different issues, including a support group.”

The organisation also now has Brexpats Buddies following the tragic death of an elderly expat who was not found for several days.

The WhatsApp group asks members to check in every day before 12pm just with a simple emoji or hello. If not, a local represenatative will be sent to check if they are in need of help. The initiative has even spawned an offshoot group in Nerja, where locals are now meeting regularly as a social group.

Speaking about the work of Brexpats in Spain, Anne said: “There are groups to help with all kinds of things. We’re also in regular contact with the British Embassy and can pass on your concerns for you.

“If you’re looking for support or information, join us.”

ANNE HERNDANEZ: Created Brexpats in Spain following queries after Brexit.

Credit: Anne Fernandez

Sweeping the UK

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy from a school in Lewisham, South East London, is the first pupil of secondary school age to die from the Strep A bug that is currently sweeping the UK. He is reported to have contracted the more serious invasive Group A Strep bacteria which caused blood poisoning.

An illness which usually only causes a mild sore throat and temperature has now claimed the lives of at least six children since September, as confirmed by UK health offi ­

cials.

The previous deaths occurred in pupils of primary school age. Health chiefs in the UK have urged parents to be on the alert for symptoms, and to act promptly if they believe their child is affected.

Kids being shut away at home during the pandemic lockdowns is one factor being blamed in many quarters.

This has subsequently lowered their immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections.

Stepping down

FORMER Chancellor and Tory leadership candidate Sajid Javid announced on Friday December 2, that he will step down as an MP at the next general election.

The shocking announcement from the MP for Bromsgrove in Worcester, on the outskirts of Birmingham, came just hours after the Labour party won a historic majority in the Chester by­elections.

It also came after reports that the Conservative party told its MPs to decide their future and declare whether or not they intended to run by Monday December 5 ­ with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson having declared his intention to stand again for his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency in London.

Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak invoked Star Wars in paying tribute to his ‘good friend’, saying “May the force be with you, Saj”.

Announcing his decision not to stand in the next general election, which is to be held at some point before January 2025, the 52­year­old said it had been “an incredible privilege” to serve his constituents.

Haka greeting In the mire

THE UK's Defence Minister Ben Wallace was greeted with the haka by Ukrainian defence force trainees during a visit to inspect a training camp. The Ministry of Defence shared the video on Wednesday, November 30 showing the traditional Māori welcome.

The Ukrainian soldiers are being trained by a team from New Zealand in preparation for combat back home, as they fight to defend their homeland from the Russian invaders.

Following the trainer’s example around 100 trainees completed the haka to welcome the minister.

Although what appears to be an aggressive approach, the haka is a wellknown greeting that has been made world famous by the All­Blacks rugby team. With England rugby struggling at the moment it’s possible the haka is the last thing Wallace wanted to see, but no doubt he was more than pleased with the training that is taking place.

Peter McLaren­Kennedy BUCKINGHAM PALACE is once again mired in controversy after a staff member had resigned after making ‘unacceptable’ comments at a palace event.

A national news outlet reported on Wednesday, November 30, that Ngozi Fulani, the founder of Sistah Space, a charity that supports African and Caribbean women affected by domestic violence, was asked “where she really came from.”

EASYJET has announced that it is set to launch a new ‘beach route’ from Manchester to Murcia in south east Spain.

Flights will commence on May 2, 2023, and will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with seats on sale from December 7. The new Airbus A320neo aircraft will also bring significant improvements in environmental and operational efficiencies compared to the previous generation of air­

The incident arose after Fulani told the palace staff member at the Queen Consort hosted event, that she was born in the UK.

The conversation was posted in full on Twitter, however, she did not identify the person involved.

Allegedly, the person concerned was Lady Susan Hussey, one of the new ‘ladies of the household’. Hussey is not new to the

palace having worked for Queen Elizabeth II in the past and was, some believe, the ‘number one head girl’.

Such controversy in Buckingham Palace is unusual where experienced staff are concerned, but with an apology made and the lady having resigned, hopefully that will be the end of the story and any future such slips.

New route

craft. The aircraft’s arrival will create around 40 local job opportunities at the airport.

Last year easyJet added 16 new routes and now offers customers a total of 77 routes to choose from. Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “I am delighted to be announcing our

plans for expansion at Manchester airport today.

“This will help us to deliver growth in Manchester and offer customers an even wider range of destinations.”

easyJet has had a base at Manchester for more than 15 years and has since flown more than 25 million passengers to and from the airport.

STAFF: Queen Elizabeth II flanked by Lady Susan Hussey.

Making it on Broadway

Peter McLaren­Kennedy

BROADWAY is for many people the pinnacle of a career in theatre, but to master that when you come from a disadvantaged background is quite an achievement.

Sheldon Epps, speaking exclusively to Euro Weekly News about his new book, said that the theatre business had and was continuing to evolve both in the USA and abroad. This he said was in large part being driven

by money with the cost of staging a production having risen dramatically, running into millions on Broadway and in London’s West End.

That he said meant benefactors were increasingly difficult to find and those that are still willing to fund productions, need and want to know that their investment is safe and will bring a return. In that respect he said theatre had become like cinema, but maybe more worrying is

that the high costs are pushing top theatre out of the reach of the average person, as ticket prices rise along with costs.

Sheldon is, however, not daunted by the challenge. As a black man in an elite world, he has risen to the top and has many awards and successes to his name, including three Tony Award nominations.

Speaking about his own career, he said it has taken a desire to suc ­

ceed, hard work, creativity and perfection. But he said it has all been worthwhile with the industry now fully integrated and providing more and more opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

Although staging mainstream theatre had become more costly and risk averse, he said there remained many opportunities for other

forms of theatre and for exploring new topics.

Speaking about the future he said he will be bringing new, previously uncovered stories to theatres, an area that he said is bursting with opportunity as audiences evolve.

Sheldon’s book ‘My own directions ­ A black man’s journey in American theatre’ is a must read for its insight into American culture and for what it takes to be successful in the creative world of theatre and film.

The book is out now and available online, you won’t be disappointed.

SHELDON EPPS: Spoke exclusively to Euro Weekly News.

credit Jonathon White PR

NEW BOOK: An insight into American culture.

Old style

• December 10, 2pm, Reflexion, rock, pop, blues, and more, 102 Tapas Palomares Plaza

• December 11, 8pm, Grand Fiesta Flamenco, Fuente Theater Mojacar

• December 11, 9pm, Odyssey, 1st anniversary of Custom Bar, Ruta Puebelerinakdda

• December 16, 7pm, Sue Moretta Singers Christmas Carols and Songs, The Irish Rover, Mojacar Playa

• December 18, 5.30pm, QUrt, rock band, The Time, El Ejido, Almeria

• December 31, 7pm, Jake Collins, The Irish Rover, Mojacar Playa

THE Andalucian Chamber Orchestra (OCA) was born in the summer of 1998 with the aim of filling the gap that exists in the Andalucian music scene.

The professional experience of these young musicians is endorsed by their participation in ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra of Spain and the Youth Orchestra of Andalucia in which they have acquired and developed their complete training.

Their repertoire covers a wide range of music, from the early Baroque to the New Music of our century. Since 1998, the OCA has given concerts in numerous An­

dalucian towns, participating in prestigious festivals such as the Sanlucar de Barrameda, Ayamonte.

After a break due to the Covid pandemic, they have returned with renewed energy.

On this occasion, the group offers a vision of the Baroque style, through three of its most important works: two of the concertos that make up the Four Seasons by Vivaldi and the concerto in A minor by Bach.

This musical joy is on at the Municipal Theatre, Parque Andaluz, s/n, 04140 Carboneras in Almeria on Saturday, December 10 at 8.00pm.

Saving Christmas

CAN Santa Claus save Christmas? The North Pole Elves are ready, the letters are read and checked, the toys are wrapped, and the sleigh is about to take off.

Everything is ready for Father Christmas to face the night he has the most work to do, Christmas Eve.

But this year someone will try to stop him from celebrating Christmas; The Grinch, who will complicate everything with his tricks.

Music, magic and emotion will be the main ingredients of this theatre adventure: what will happen in the end, will the Elves be able to find a solution, will the presents be delivered on time? And most importantly will you help us save Christmas?

This festive fun is on at the Cervantes Theatre, Calle Poeta Villaespesa 1, 04001 Almeria on Sunday, December 11, at 6.00pm.

For more information or to book tickets go to the website /www.teatrocervantesalmeria.com/ or call (+34) 650 030 303

Run for fun

THE popular 10th Carrera Cortijo del Fraile running race will take place in the Natural Park of Gata­Nijar on Sunday, December 11 at 10.00am.

The route will be along a track in the vicinity of Cortijo de Fraile. The activity will take place over a distance of 11 kilometres and is approved by the Andalucian Athletics Federation.

At the same time, there will be a non ­ competitive event with a circuit of 5,000 metres.

Entrants receive a t­shirt and headband.

For more information go to the website: https://www.to dofondo.net/.

Take a hike

WALKERS looking for a challenge of a 45­kilometre walk put a note in your diary for Saturday, December 10 at 5.00pm.

Travesias are a mountaineering discipline regulated by the Andalucian Mountaineering Federation. They take the form of mountain routes and are on foot, without running.

These are organised routes, with a specific start and finish, with intermediate points for rest, regrouping and/or refreshments. They are free of technical difficulties that require techniques other than hiking.

The routes of Travesias run through mountain terrain: paths, trails and tracks. The percentage of asphalted terrain in a crossing will not exceed 15 per cent (except for sections that pass through urban centres).

The first Travesia took place in 2018 organised by the Almeria Activa Sports Club in conjunction with the Almocita City Councill.

This year’s Travesia MilSendas Alpujarra will start from the world’s largest oil lamp attraction, Almocita.

To join in the fun, get more information or to register go to the website: /www.almocitaactiva.com/

RENEWED ENERGY: The Andalucian Chamber Orchestra.

Image: Andalucian Chamber Orchestra/Facebook

Football fraud

THE Ukrainian bid for the 2030 World Cup has been scuppered, as top officials from the country’s football association have been arrested after accusations of money­laundering and fraud.

The President of the Ukrainian Football Association, Andriy Pavelko and the General Secretary, Yuri Zapisotsky, were arrested on November 29 for the ‘embezzlement’ of nearly €700,000.

The funds were allegedly laundered under the guise of building an artificial grass factory, when the officials moved money sent to their association from a company in the UAE without permission.

Pavelko and Zapisotsky are being held on bail following their arrests in Kyiv, and are barred from communicating with witnesses.

Last week as the charges were announced, the Ukrainian Football Association had accused investigators of acting on behalf of Russia.

Football experts expect the development to end the country’s bid to hold the World Cup in 2030 with Spain and France.

German goal

GERMANY has signed a new 15­year contract with Qatar for a supply of liquified natural gas. German industrial experts signed the deal with the Gulf nation for approximately two million tonnes of gas, as they rush to reduce dependence on Russian pipelines.

State­owned Qatar Energy announced the partnership at the end of November, saying that supplies would begin from 2026.

American company, ConocoPhillips will be responsible for transporting LNG deliveries from Qatar to the German LNG termi­

nal at Brunsbüttel.

There have already been mixed reactions to the policy, with some saying the decision undermines Germany’s criticism of human rights abuses in Qatar and what this means for Germany’s environmental stance.

In response, German Economic Minister and Green Party Member, Robert Habeck said in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Germany’s decision to stop relying on Russian gas, the country needs to take gas from a variety of energy sources.

Medieval revival

AN ambitious proposal will see a team of French historians and designers team up to create a reconstruction of William the Conqueror’s boat that was used by the monarch when he arrived in England in 1066.

The La Mora project was launched at the end of November with a budget of €13 million to recreate the ship.

The vessel was memorialised in the famous Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events which followed William of Normandy’s arrival in England from France, and the ensuing Battle of Hastings.

William of Normandy was victorious during the battle, becoming King William I of England just days later.

The boat was thought to have been a 34 ­ metre long longship, modelled on Viking longships. An issue that designers will

face is creating a sturdy boat that complies with current seafaring regulations.

Members of the project want to see the boat sail

in time for the anniversary of William the Conqueror’s 1,000th birthday, in 2027. It would then become a tourist attraction.

Corruption crackdown

Betty Henderson

THE EU is seeking to block more than €13 billion of funding destined for Hungary due to persisting corruption issues in Victor Orbán’s government and holes in the country’s democracy.

The measure was first suggested in September, and Hungarian officials received a deadline of November 19 to fix the issues. The EU announced on November 30 that the measure would proceed to the next stage of a vote between member states after its 27 requirements were not met.

The 27 measures included 17 ways to reduce corruption and 10 ways to strengthen democracy through institutions including the country’s supreme court and National Judicial Council. The Hungarian economy is currently in decline, which could push President Orbán into accepting the measures quickly, to avoid losing out on billions of euros in funding. Hungarian officials have repeatedly clashed with fellow European Union members in recent months over issues including corporate tax rates, the EU stance in solidarity with Ukraine and the use of sanctions against Russia.

Germany is set to take deliveries of gas from Qatar in a new 15-year contract.

Photo credit: dragancfm / shutterstock.com

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Netflix deal

FOLLOWING almost a year of hard negotiation, Netflix has reached an agreement with Danish film and TV producers which will ensure that the global giant will purchase Danish produced productions again after a dispute over payment which has cost the industry some €200 million.

THE NETHERLANDS

Friendly wolf

WOLVES are a protected species in Holland and a court has ruled that a plan by authorities to use paintballs to try to frighten an apparently tame juvenile wolf from approaching humans in the Veluwe national park is unacceptable following an appeal by conservationists.

BELGIUM

Harry Potter

THE Magical Music of Harry Potter tour came to Liège late November and was well received thanks to an exceptional performance by the Ukrainian Khmelnitsky Orchestra and actor Chris Rankin (who played Percy Weasley in the films), who was the presenter and host.

GERMANY

Dearer holidays

GERMANY is likely to become a more expensive destination for tourists from nonEU countries if they book holidays from local travel agents, as from January 1, those operators will have to charge VAT on their invoice and make tax returns in Germany.

FRANCE

Heritage bread

AS French as a man on a bicycle with a string of onions, the baguette, the Eiffel Tower of French bread has gained UNESCO recognition after being named on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for ‘artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread’.

NORWAY

Not spruce

THE aptly named Richard Wood, British Ambassador to Norway has taken to Twitter to say that this year’s Christmas tree sent to Trafalgar Square was perfect when it left the country in response to criticism by other Twitter users, including Larry the Cat, calling it tatty.

FINLAND

Internet use

INTERNET supplier Valokuitunen Oy commissioned a poll of internet users to see how aware they were of the environmental effects of using the internet and some 70 per cent of those contacted admitted that they hadn’t even thought about it, let alone reduced usage.

IRELAND

Strange reward

A WHISTLEBLOWER who revealed information about Irish Rail eight years ago is still employed by the rail company at a salary of €121,000-a-year, but complains that because his work load has been reduced so much, he spends most of his time reading and eating sandwiches.

ITALY

Leaning Tower

THE iconic landmark in Tuscany, the Leaning Tower of Pisa isn’t leaning as much as it used to according to a new report from the local heritage protection agency. Its tilt was last corrected in 2001 and since then has straightened by four centimetres.

PORTUGAL

Welcoming city

LISBON has been named the second happiest city in the world for expats according to the latest German organisation Internations Expat City Ranking 2022. It came fourth overall when compared to 49 other cities around the world thanks to the welcoming locals, weather, culture and nightlife.

UKRAINE

UK assistance

THE UK and Ukraine have entered into a groundbreaking new Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) that will help Ukraine rebuild its economy. This deal is the second such agreement and follows a decision to cut tariffs on all goods from Ukraine to zero.

SWEDEN

Greta Thunberg

TEENAGE Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg intentionally chose Black Friday to join with more than 600 young environmentalists to bring a class action against the government of Sweden alleging that it has failed in its Constitutional duty to take positive action to tackle climate change.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

More jobs

SPAIN’S unemployment fell by 33,512 people in November to 2,881,380, the lowest figure in a month of November since 2007 and the main beneficiaries of the drop have been women and young people who have been the two sectors most affected by unemployment.

Inflation slows

THE news that Germany, Spain and Belgium reported that inflation in November appeared to be slowing down could be good news for consumers in the eurozone as apart from anything else, it may well encourage the European Central Bank to reconsider new interest rate hikes.

Lorry drivers

THE Spanish Ministry of Transport has approved the National Road Transport Inspection Plan for 2023, which confirms that carriers work at a fair price, that the driver does not carry out, in general, the loading and unloading of merchandise and receive prompt payment.

HSBC closures

EUROPE’S largest bank by assets, HSBC, has announced that it will close another 114 branches in the UK starting next April, as customers using them have fallen significantly since the pandemic and whilst it will try to redeploy staff, some 100 will lose their jobs.

Digital success

DIGITAL restaurant Vicio, which was founded in Barcelona by a former MasterChef winner during the pandemic, offers a range of gourmet burgers with side dishes delivered to customer’s doors and in its first year has generated a turnover of €4 million.

STAT OF WEEK €5 billion

Brexit food bill

BREXIT cost UK households an extra £5.8 billion for food according to a report issued by the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the London School of Economics on Thursday December 1.

This only covers the period from January 1, 2020 until the end of 2021 and according to the report, this was the equivalent of £210 per British household.

It goes on to say that because low­income households spend a greater share of their finances on food than richer families, these Brexit ­ driven price rises had a proportionately greater impact on the poorest people.

The latest study confirms that food prices increased by 6 per cent and finds that for the poorest households, this equates to a Brexit ­ induced rise in the overall cost of living of 1.1 per cent, which is 52 per cent more than the 0.7 per cent rise felt in the top 10 per cent of households.

While the Trade and Coopera­

tion Agreement, which came into force in January 2021, ensures that trade between the UK and the EU remains tarifffree, post­Brexit, there are more non ­ tariff barriers (NTBs) between the UK and the EU which include new comprehensive customs checks, rules of origin requirements and sanitary and phytosanitary measures for trade in animals and plants.

The study concludes that it is

these NTBs that have affected prices. The rise in consumer prices was driven only by products with high NTBs and there was no significant rise in prices for products with low NTBs.

The changes have benefited domestic producers of food, who now have less competition from European imports, but unlike regular tariffs, NTBs do not generate any revenue for the government.

Competition for Amazon

WATCH out Amazon, Miravia is out to beat you in Spain as the Alibaba subsidiary opened its website on Thursday December 1.

The unveiling ceremony took place in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid the previous day and was a mixture of hard sell and musical entertainment.

Alibaba is one of China’s biggest online presences and was set up in 1999 to offer a huge range of goods initially to the Chinese market.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength and is now said to be one of the largest companies in China, but it has fallen foul of US regulations and in or­

der to operate in Europe, it needed to be more transparent and also offer an efficient speedy service.

Thus, Miravia was born and chose Spain as the first country in which it will operate and CEO Yann Fontaine, when speaking at the launch (according to Mar­

keting4Commerce), said “Spain is one of the European markets with the greatest potential in the ecommerce sector.

“It has great penetration on the internet and in mobile technology, which means enormous potential for a platform like Miravia.

“We hope to cover all the needs of Spanish consumers, while offering local and international brands greater tools to sell and engage with their customers.”

Apparently, what makes it different to Amazon and other online shopping outlets, is that Miravia will not only be working closely with influencers and Artificial Intelligence to create exclusive content, but will also allow brands to design their own virtual stores and even operate affiliate programmes.

Time will tell, but to encourage customers to visit the new site, there will be introductory discounts for new clients.

THE John Lewis Partnership has agreed a £500 million multidecade joint venture with global investment company abrdn to deliver around 1,000 new homes across three UK communities.

It will use part of its existing portfolio of properties which are no longer in use to provide 1,000 new homes in Bromley and West Ealing where stores will be redeveloped to allow for housing and in Reading it will convert a disused warehouse. The build­to­rent sector has a key role to play in addressing the shortfall in rental homes, which is set to increase further with the government’s help to buy scheme now coming to end and in London alone there is a shortfall of 75,000 rental properties.

Fewer iPhones

WITH consumers around the world gearing up for Christmas and other holidays, Apple Inc continues to appeal to many looking to either buy phones as gifts or hoping to use money given to them to make a purchase. It rather looks however that there will be a shortage of iPhones this year as workers at the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhouin, China who produce these products have been protesting about their conditions and walking out.

Whilst they have now reportedly been offered a better deal, there is still likely to be a holiday shortfall which consulting firm UBS suggests could total 16 million phones.

€1bn funding

ITALIAN energy company Plentitude is looking to invest €1 billion in Spanish renewable projects over the next four years, according to recently appointed CEO Stefano Goberti.

The first step has been to acquire 100 per cent of PLT (PLT Energia Srl and SEF Srl), another Italian company subject to approval from the relevant authorities which is already installing wind farms on the Spanish mainland.

The existence of the European Recovery Fund has seen both Italy and Spain receiving the lion’s share of funding either as direct grants or low­cost loans which is allowing accelerated investment in renewable energy in both countries.

is the amount that energy company Cepsa will be spending using Spanish government Recovery Fund Money to finance a huge hydrogen production project in Andalucia.

Credit: Atoms Unsplash

SPENDING UP: Food price rises hit every UK household.

Credit: Miravia

NEW WEBSITE: Miravia online and through App.

3I Group 1.320,50 1.324,50 1.306,50 112,65K

Abrdn 205,31 206,20 201,40 1,97M

Admiral Group 2.031,0 2.037,0 2.018,0 66,12K

Anglo American 3.396,5 3.401,7 3.313,5 81,64K

Antofagasta 1.456,50 1.463,50 1.439,00 177,14K

Ashtead Group 5.034,0 5.044,0 5.006,0 51,38K

Associated British Foods 1.660,0 1.676,0 1.650,5 155,72K

AstraZeneca 11.174,0 11.232,0 11.162,0 190,67K

Auto Trader Group Plc 581,00 581,60 574,00 268,63K

Aveva 3.185,0 3.188,0 3.183,0 50,32K

Aviva 446,25 448,80 442,30 467,68K

B&M European Value Retail SA420,90 422,90 418,30 216,21K

BAE Systems 812,00 815,40 806,00 673,07K

Barclays 158,38 158,42 156,06 4,71M

Barratt Developments 411,80 413,20 405,80 374,45K

Berkeley 3.858,0 3.864,0 3.832,0 41,01K

BHP Group Ltd 2.611,00 2.619,00 2.577,50 340,30K

BP 481,85 482,00 477,40 5,51M

British American Tobacco 3.414,4 3.434,5 3.401,5 257,58K

British Land Company 405,40 406,30 399,00 171,21K

BT Group 121,38 121,65 120,60 1,43M

Bunzl 3.044,0 3.050,0 3.022,0 25,63K

Burberry Group 2.141,0 2.161,0 2.135,0 188,88K

Carnival 713,4 714,2 701,2 210,97K

Centrica 95,58 95,84 94,70 1,36M

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.997,7 2.035,0 1.996,5 77,48K

Compass 1.870,00 1.877,50 1.854,00 223,24K

CRH 3.295,5 3.299,0 3.260,5 65,63K

Croda Intl 6.920,0 6.998,0 6.910,0 15,56K

DCC 4.413,0 4.421,0 4.376,0 14,12K

Diageo 3.810,0 3.850,5 3.809,5 214,13K

DS Smith 308,60 309,20 305,70 386,64K

EasyJet 392,30 399,40 391,50 290,16K

Experian 2.960,0 2.966,7 2.944,0 22,63K

Ferguson 9.590,0 9.620,0 9.501,5 10,24K

Flutter Entertainment 12.105,0 12.125,0 11.985,0 52,23K

Fresnillo 931,47 933,20 900,80 245,39K

Glencore 570,20 571,80 561,70 7,20M

GSK plc 1.405,94 1.413,80 1.403,80 109,63K

Halma 2.244,0 2.258,0 2.221,0 81,56K

Hargreaves Lansdown 867,20 871,20 858,00 216,07K

Hikma Pharma 1.542,00 1.543,00 1.518,00 78,32K

HSBC 499,79 500,49 494,85 328,57K

IAG 133,22 134,30 132,78 1,59M

Imperial Brands 2.108,00 2.117,00 2.090,00 220,19K

Informa 621,60 623,40 619,80 247,52K

InterContinental 4.767,0 4.783,0 4.744,0 35,04K

Intermediate Capital 1.255,50 1.262,50 1.240,00 80,30K

Intertek 4.131,0 4.152,0 4.109,0 42,65K

ITV 77,50 77,58 75,66 1,75M

J Sainsbury 224,40 224,60 220,80 370,25K

Johnson Matthey 2.130,8 2.134,0 2.097,0 30,55K

Land Securities 630,00 630,20 620,00 109,51K

Legal & General 258,70 259,20 253,60 1,34M

Lloyds Banking 46,72 46,84 46,31 8,20M

London Stock Exchange 8.122,0 8.268,0 8.120,0 94,37K

Melrose Industries 126,95 128,55 126,05 1,71M

Mondi 1.555,50 1.560,00 1.542,50 110,28K

National Grid 1.025,27 1.025,50 1.018,00 632,70K

NatWest Group 262,30 262,70 260,30 2,24M

Next 5.877,6 5.886,0 5.824,0 13,16K

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

Ocado 683,80 685,60 663,40 231,25K

Persimmon 1.289,0 1.293,0 1.245,0 229,44K

Phoenix 602,00 602,60 593,40 218,63K

Prudential 1.099,50 1.109,50 1.048,50 2,88M

Reckitt Benckiser 5.976,0 6.040,0 5.970,0 116,68K

Relx 2.329,00 2.335,00 2.313,00 385,77K

Rentokil 540,20 543,40 539,40 570,64K

Rightmove 568,00 568,60 560,74 23,19K

Rio Tinto PLC 5.784,0 5.790,0 5.651,0 497,75K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 89,24 91,07 89,22 4,10M

Sage 796,20 800,40 793,40 168,76K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.158,00 1.163,50 1.154,00 3,28K Schroders 466,2 467,9 459,9 163,09K

Scottish Mortgage 792,79 796,60 786,00 340,85K

Segro 831,00 832,20 817,00 381,72K

Severn Trent 2.745,0 2.748,0 2.720,0 30,27K

Shell 2.377,0 2.378,5 2.344,0 1,50M

Smith & Nephew 1.086,23 1.093,50 1.079,00 234,07K

Smiths Group 1.592,00 1.594,00 1.582,00 97,58K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.420,0 11.435,9 11.357,8 1,21K SSE 1.729,00 1.730,50 1.718,75 25,74K

St. James’s Place 1.183,50 1.194,00 1.181,00 84,06K

Standard Chartered 596,60 597,20 588,40 545,37K

Taylor Wimpey 105,75 105,90 104,20 1,38M

Tesco 229,95 230,00 227,00 280,77K

Tui 145,51 146,75 144,95 431,47K

Unilever 4.138,0 4.177,0 4.138,0 423,73K

United Utilities 1.053,00 1.053,50 1.048,50 203,67K

Vodafone Group PLC 91,68 93,18 91,04 17,06M Whitbread 2.608,0 2.622,0 2.599,0 47,96K WPP 877,80 879,40 869,40 345,82K

3M 126,99 127,25 1,82M

American Express 156,75 157,28 155,00 2,28M

Amgen 285,51 286,12 283,19 2,25M

Apple 147,81 148,00 145,65 65,30M

Boeing 182,87 183,45 172,85 10,50M

Caterpillar 236,13 238,47 233,59 2,21M

Chevron 181,03 183,63 179,93 6,78M

Cisco 49,70 49,84 48,92 12,31M

Coca-Cola 64,35 64,52 63,40 13,56M

Dow 51,55 51,70 50,43 4,85M

Goldman Sachs 380,58 382,52 378,40 1,92M

Home Depot 327,99 328,48 320,33 3,63M

Honeywell 219,08 219,86 214,72 2,18M

IBM 148,67 149,16 147,73 2,87M

Intel 29,41 29,43 28,71 31,49M

J&J 178,88 178,96 176,96 5,79M

JPMorgan 135,16 135,35 133,34 8,92M

McDonald’s 273,40 273,45 269,62 2,79M

Merck&Co 110,04 110,09 108,71 6,89M

Microsoft 255,02 256,06 249,69 21,33M

Nike 112,20 112,71 108,34 5,87M

Procter&Gamble 150,61 150,77 148,08 4,90M

Salesforce Inc 144,56 145,21 142,78 15,04M

The Travelers 189,54 189,94 187,79 1,28M

UnitedHealth 536,16 538,61 532,44 2,33M

Verizon 38,18 38,30 37,70 21,57M

Visa A 217,66 218,48 214,24 5,13M

Walgreens Boots 41,48 41,63 40,85 4,85M

Walmart 153,22 153,24 151,48 6,88M

Walt Disney 99,43 99,69 97,01 12,60M

Most Advanced

Most Declined

Cracker

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. -11.58% 915,309

Zscaler, Inc. -10.73% 9.665M

Asana, Inc. -10.45% 12.786M

Veeva Systems Inc. -8.63% 2.551M

HF Sinclair Corporation -7.26% 4.431M

PBF Energy Inc. -7.08% 5.982M

CVR Energy, Inc. -7.00% 868,001

CyberArk Software Ltd. -6.96% 446,395

Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC -6.51% 4.155M

Graham Holdings Company -6.42% 73,694

BUSINESS EXTRA

Genuine leeks

WELSH leeks have become the latest addition to the UK Geographical Indication (GI) Scheme, which protects the name, authenticity and characteristics of regional products. Shoppers will be able to clearly see a logo on the label showing they are buying the real thing,

Dearer mortgages

ALTHOUGH the Spanish government has indicated that it will make the cost of mortgages affordable, despite increase in base rates, CaixaBank has raised the interest rate on its 30­year fixed mortgage from 4.31 per cent to 4.79 per cent making it the most expensive Spanish lender.

New law

MONEY from fines handed out to water companies in the UK that pollute rivers and seas will now be re­invested in schemes that benefit the natural environment. Since 2015, the Environment Agency has concluded 56 prosecutions against companies, generating fines of over £141 million.

Primark expands

PRIMARK, the international fashion retailer, has confirmed its commitment to Spain by announcing a capital investment of €100 million in its Spanish business. The investment includes €80 million in eight new stores and one store extension and €20 million investment in upgrades and refurbishments in stores.

Over 1,000 jobs will be created over the next two years as part of the company’s ambitious growth plans in the market.

Primark opened its first store in Spain 16 years ago in May 2006, in Plenilunio, Madrid and today has 56 stores across the country which makes it the second largest market for the Irish group.

Spanish State Deficit

THE Spanish State Deficit continues to head in the right direction after being a major bone of contention with the European Union for many years.

In essence, prudent fiscal policy should see a country earn more than it spends on an annual basis, but this has been a real problem for successive Spanish governments since the 2008 economic crisis.

Clearly the pandemic didn’t help the current position as so much money was spent on supporting business and families in need, but since 2021, Spain has seen a downwards turn as industry started to recover after strict lockdown and isolation rules were relaxed.

According to Minister of Finance Maria Jesus Montero, in October 2021, the deficit stood at 4.93 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and totalled €59.468 billion, but at the end of October 2022 this had dropped

Comparing the inflation impact

INFLATION, Covid­19, and the Ukraine war have affected consumer behaviour in Europe, according to new data.

But there’s good news for people living in Spain, where people are spending less, and saving more, despite record inflation.

To mark World Savings Day, online bank N26 surveyed customers to find out how Europeans are dealing with the impact of inflation.

The data shows which countries are still spending big on vacations and restaurants, whose incomes are growing, and the changes to spending habits.

Spending data and saving data of over 380,000 consumers in five European markets (Spain, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy) were surveyed between January and August 2022.

Despite record inflation, customers in Spain saved the

most between March and August this year. Of all the countries studied, Spain experienced the highest inflation rates overall.

Despite this, customers in Spain increased their savings, on average, from 4.6 per cent (of their average income) in January and February to 7.2 per cent from March onwards ­ a relative increase of 57.2 per cent.

Following the overall EU trend, Spanish users were also able to save the most in March ­ 11.1 per cent of their

income, or €177.89 on average.

Of all the markets studied, customers in Spain have the highest savings ratio overall, setting aside, on average, 6.6 per cent of their income between January and August.

Elsewhere in Europe, signs of inflation were especially noticeable in the ‘food and groceries’ and ‘transport and cars’ categories ­ but Spain saw a downward trend with Spaniards spending 1 per cent less of their average income in this category.

by a significant 69.7 per cent to a much healthier €18.016 billion, equivalent to 1.37 per cent of GDP.

This has mainly been achieved by a combination of a 25 per cent increase in sales of non ­ financial products and a much smaller growth in expenditure of just under 2 per cent.

Tax collections on both production and imports have helped considerably with VAT collections rising by 18 per cent in the period under review and Income Tax for both residents and nonresidents shooting up with tax on dividends making a big contribution.

As companies earn more, so they pay more and the sale of shares and other assets has added to the amount of Capital Gains Tax being collected as well.

The payments to Spain from the European Recovery Fund have also helped the country to invest for the future.

Toy story

IN 2020, the Spanish government undertook a study into the way that children’s toys were advertised and whether they promoted gender stereotypes.

The conclusion was sufficient for the government to introduce strict new rules, effective December 1 this year, in time for Christmas and Three Kings.

The intention is that adverts should not target girls with traditional toys such as dolls, make­ up and cooking, whilst there should be little use of the colour pink which is also associated with young females.

Equally, blue should not be used when promoting traditional boy’s toys, such as cars and similar ‘macho’ goods, as the intention is to ensure that youngsters feel equal and not directed down one particular road.

Stop bullying

TUC figures show that nearly a third of people (29 per cent) in the UK believe that they have been bullied at work, with more than one in three (36 per cent) leaving their job because of it.

Research by employment and partnership law specialists Fox & Partners, reveals the number of cases heard by the Employment Tribunal which contain allegations of bullying has increased 44 per cent from 581 in 2020/21 to a record high of 835 in 2021/22.

Some of those who claim to have suffered from such bullying are now lobbying MPs and Parliament to have workplace bullying recognised as a crime in UK law as is the case in countries such as Sweden.

President Sánchez with Minister Montero following 2023 Budget approval.

Credit: La Moncloa flickr

SURVEY: Euros real value continues to shrink.

Credit: Alexandra Koch CC

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT Friend and foe

DELIGHTED to not be mentioned in the recent Diana Dors TV documentary. I knew her extremely well for many years, probably better than anyone. We were very close during her difficult times, when she was struggling to keep her financial head above water, including the upkeep of her two young sons she had organised for her ex ­ husband Richard Dawson; also an out of regular work actor, to look after in America.

This was of course later rectified, when in 1965 he obtained a starring role in the highly successful series Hogan’s Heroes, but his was also a terrible struggle before he clinched the role. She had engaged a new, fairly low key agent who began to book her in cabaret dates, mainly in the north of England.

This was some years before this ol’ boy cracked it with Little Arrows, so I was free to accompany her to many of these venues, which were springing up all over the country. After she had completed the appearance, we would leave for the hotel ­ which she always booked for one! I would sub­

sequently then sneak in and share the room for the night. She was earning £100 to £150 an appearance, out of which my share would be around 15 quid. Although that doesn’t sound particularly copious, in those far off days it meant I could at least provide my own family with some security.

As a struggling actor myself, I was also discovering showbiz optimisms fraught with difficulty. She would then send most of what she could afford to her husband in America. This went on for a number of years, during which she occasionally managed to pick up a cameo role in a movie or TV appearance.

We shared some great times, until one day she told me she had been offered a starring role in a new West End play entitled ‘Three months Gone.’ Apparently, she wasn’t sure whether to accept it as she hadn’t been offered a wage, but only a percentage of the door. It was only after I had almost twisted her arm up her back with the insistence that she simply had to take on the role due to

the amount of publicity that could ensue, that she finally accepted.

The show was a resounding success and suddenly she was back, earning really well. Life was good again and our friendship and social life grew even stronger. One day she told me she had met a ‘wonderful man’ named Alan Lake, who was also appearing in the production, and thought she could be falling in love. She introduced me and frankly, I didn’t like him at all.

A few years later she conspired with him in an injustice, which ultimately cost me my freedom and almost my career. It’s all in the books. Available on Amazon.

Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon, Wed, Fri. 1pm.

OIL OR ELECTRIC OUR VIEW

IN order to combat climate change, the perceived view is that the world should ban diesel and petrol engines and rely on electricity. In theory this seems like a sensible idea, but there are a few problems with this, the foremost currently being the West’s ability to generate electricity and the problems that may occur in creating and later disposing of batteries that will be strong enough to power vehicles.

With the European Union and other countries deciding to place a cap on the value of Russian oil that can be imported and Russia’s indication that it just won’t supply those countries that implement such a ban, it immediately focuses our attention on how it will affect us.

The USA still has huge underground reserves and allows fracking which rightly or wrongly means it can generate even more oil so it won’t be hurt by the ban.

Some Scandinavian countries generate huge amounts of power using hydroelectrics and Norway of course has both oil and natural gas in abundance, but what of the others?

Already Switzerland has indicated that if it is short of electricity then it will seriously consider banning electric vehicles from its roads and other countries are advising owners of electric cars to stagger charging for fear of overloading their electric grids. This is hardly an encouraging start to the ushering in of a new age of transport, especially when currently the costs of electric cars are higher than petrol or diesel and the vehicles themselves still don’t have the same range and take longer to charge.

At the moment, it seems that the safest way to proceed is with a hybrid vehicle which hopefully gives the best of both worlds.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Suicide prevention

SADLY, suicide is one of the biggest causes of death in Spain and since overtaking road traffic accidents as the most common violent cause of death, suicides have been increasing. Winter can increase feelings of depression, with springtime being the most dangerous time for suicide.

While it is crucial to be aware that suicide can happen at any point of the year, some mental health conditions such as seasonal affective disorder can increase in winter, increasing the risk of suicide. Here we share some top recommendations from experts on how you can boost mental health.

Exercise

Boost your mental health over the Christmas period by making time to exercise or simply to get outside. Nature and exercise can both reduce feelings of stress or anger and reduce symptoms of anger and depression.

Know when to get help

Spending time outdoors over the festive period can significantly reduce feelings of depression and anxiety that can contribute to suicidal feelings.

If you are feeling depressed, don’t leave it too late. The Spanish free suicide helpline is 024 and is manned by Red Cross workers 24 hours per day. There are also lots of online resources to help you or others through difficult times and therapists working online internationally can help with suicidal thoughts.

Check on people

Data in Spain shows that men die by suicide at three times the rate of women dying by suicide. Mental health professionals highlight the need to reach out to people who might be struggling, particularly men, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Making human connections can significantly reduce feelings of depression.

Photo credit: encierro / shutterstock.com

Aromatherapy

Try some aromatherapy with candles or essential oils with these beneficial scents to boost your wellbeing over winter.

AS we spend more time indoors during the winter, take this opportunity to invest some time in your health and wellness. Aromatherapy is one excellent way you can unwind at home and take a break from all of the seasonal activity. Practise some winter wellness with these seasonal aromatherapy scents by lighting a candle or burning some essential oil and feel your best over the holiday period!

• Peppermint

This scent is well known for its invigorating properties, giv­

ing you the perfect energy boost when you might be feeling a little run down. Peppermint can also be soothing, reducing inflammation and stress.

• Cinnamon

This essential holiday scent can also improve our well­being by improving circulation. Scientific research also suggests that cinnamon can help cognitive function and memory, all while bringing a cosy, Christmas scent into our homes.

• Frankincense

Another seasonal scent is also known to have relaxing effects when used in our homes, reducing stress while improving concentration. Frankincense also helps to strengthen the respiratory system giving it a needed boost against colds and seasonal sicknesses.

• Lemon

Aromatherapy blends using this citrus fruit can help to clear congestion and colds. They also create a cosy, comforting atmosphere in your home, perfect for winter warmth.

Photo credit: White bear studio / shutterstock.com

Here to help

THE British Benevolent Fund tries to help British nationals in Spain who have found themselves in very difficult financial situations.

Often this is compounded by difficulties with a challenging social security and health system.

One such case was John.

John lives in rural Spain. He moved there after his wife died and enjoyed the tranquillity.

He quickly settled in, made friends, learned the language and found parttime work.

He also registered as an official resident and had a modest income freelancing.

On a routine medical check­up, they discovered a suspected tumour and needed to do more tests.

As a legal resident he was covered, but he hadn’t reckoned with the bureaucracy and the long

waiting list.

The doctors advised surgery to remove a malignant tumour close to his spine.

Within weeks the damage caused to the spine left him with debilitating back pain and mobility issues. He was soon finding it very difficult to walk.

As an official Spanish resident, he was entitled to healthcare and disability payments.

However, he had to wait nearly six months for the surgery and was unable to work.

His savings were soon depleted.

Local social services contacted the local British Consulate who referred the case to us.

The BBF was able to pay for mobility and a

modest sum to cover living and travel expenses to and from the hospital.

The surgery was a success and John was able to receive disability payments.

He wrote to us afterward to say he was back to living a full life and to thank us.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you have offered me. After having fallen ill with cancer I was in a very dark place. I now have help from social security after a long wait. The BBF lifted a heavy weight.”

John is now working again and, in every sense ­ back on his feet.

Riding high

CASSANDRA NASH

PEDRO SANCHEZ, president of the Spanish government, is riding high on the crest of a wave that has swept him to reassuringly shallow waters and the safe shores of a votedthrough 2023 Budget.

Sanchez has now heaved and strained to pass three Budgets on the trot since June 2018 when he first entered the Moncloa palace following a vote of no confidence in his beleaguered Partido Popular predecessor, Mariano Rajoy.

Budget approval came at a price, as always happens with political arm­twisting, and required the support of MPs from 11 different parties.

This gave the PP leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, the opportunity of dragging up Basque party Bildu’s past as the political arm of the now­extinct, disbanded and decommissioned ETA terrorist group.

As for the Catalans, the government concessions were just a few steps short granting them independence, according to the opposition, with extreme right­wing Vox galloping at their head.

Feijoo, the former, and very successful,

president of the Junta de Galicia, accused Sanchez of giving in to separatist demands. If he had said “nationalist” he would have been nearer the truth, and he was also choosing to forget that those MPs’ 11 parties represented 12 million voters.

And they will come in handy after Sanchez goes to the country in December 2023.

(In)Trans(igent) Law

EQUALITY minister Irene Montero is not having much luck with her hobby­horse laws.

First the Sexual Liberty law has retroactively reduced the sentences of sexual abusers and now the PSOE socialists are refusing to back her Trans Law unless there are legal safeguards for under­16s who want to transition.

Montero, who represents Podemos in the Unidas Podemos alliance that governs Spain, the PSOE, refuses to budge.

In fact, with an average fortnight’s wait for a primary care appointment in some regions, many of those gender­questioning teenagers will probably be in their 20s and could have changed their minds by the time they actually manage to see a consultant.

of the week

Villa Linda in La Alfoquia

NEW & EXCLUSIVE TO VOSS HOMES ­ A larger than average, beautifully presented, light and airy, two bed, two bath villa with H&C air con, fibre optic internet, recently refurbished 8m x 4m swimming pool, amazing views and full sized sun roof on an established low maintenance garden of 445m2.

Walking distance to all the cafes, restaurants, shops, bank, doctors, vets, gym, walking football and bowling clubs etc in La Alfoquia village. Four mins drive to Zurgena village, seven mins drive to Arboleas village and 15 mins drive to Huercal ­ Overa. Twentyfive to 30 mins drive to the coast at Mojacar, Vera and Garrucha.

Villa Linda is on the edge and raised part of a very popular, well maintained development on a no through road, so there is no passing traffic.

To the front is an imprinted concrete driveway for one car and patio area plus there is plenty of safe on road parking right outside the property. In the main rear garden is the 8m x 4m swimming pool and attractive gardens

with plenty of room for sunbathing and entertaining. External stairs lead up to the large sunroof with lovely 360 degree views.

The villa consists of a large living room / dining room with H&C air con,

ceiling fans, electric wall heaters and wood burning fire. Above the dining area is an impressive light tower giving extra light into the villa.

From the living room glazed, double sliding doors take you into the Florida

style, meshed conservatory giving a second living / dining room. From here you look over the established rear garden, swimming pool and over the rest of the development / distant hills and countryside. Here two doors lead out to the garden and sun roof.

From the living room a door takes you into the separate, fully fitted kitchen with ceiling fan and plenty of storage cupboards and work top space. Next is the separate, very useful utility room.

An archway takes you to the two good sized double bedrooms both with H&C air con, ceiling fans and fitted wardrobes. The master bedroom has an electric wall heater plus ensuite bathroom and next to the second bedroom is the family shower room. Both bathroom and shower room have towel heaters.

Voss Homes is a British family ­ run business with offices just round the corner from this property in La Alfoquia and also in the thriving, market town of Huercal­Overa.

VILLA LINDA: A beautifully presented, light and airy villa with amazing views.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

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.

FOUL PLAY

I WAS stopped on the weekend by the police for walking my dog along the beach. They said that they could see that I was a responsible dog owner as I had my bottle filled with water and washing up liquid and poo bags so I was sent on my way without any penalty. I do not have a problem with this and applaud them, it is just a shame that there aren’t more areas along the beach which are dog friendly.

David, Costa Blanca

Another con

I’M a long time reader and lover of your column and have emailed you in the past. Might I suggest a commentary about the fraud that is the man­made global warming con? Please see https://cli matediscussionnexus.com / for some down­to­earth facts. Either way, keep up the great work!!

Your fan

Not a supporter

SO Lee is not a supporter of the Conservative party but would support any others apart from Labour. I find this very strange that anyone who is not a supporter of a Tory government chooses to attack week after week the only credible opposition and not the party he purports not to support who are in government, and has never once condemned them.

try is drowning in, these anti Labour rants should be aimed in a different direction.

Freedom of speech

Max Kite

His obsession of hate for the left is currently very much in the minority as Labour are miles ahead in the polls. His latest pathetic comment that their new idea of scrapping the House of Lords is a bumbling effort to gain popularity shows how completely out of touch he is as Labour promised this proposal 12 years ago if they ever got back into government. Perhaps as he says the swamp of despair the coun ­

FULL marks to your newspaper for giving Leapy Lee the freedom to express opinions with which, I believe, most open ­ minded people would agree. It takes courage these days of woke to tell it as it is when, according to the socalled rules of today, you should avoid upsetting anyone at all costs! Reading the bleeding heart criticism from some of your respondents, I truly wonder which fairy tale planet they presently occupy! Please keep telling it as it really is, and is likely to become, Leapy.

Ken, San Fulgencio

Ramon Osborne, Los Alcázares

DOG FRIENDLY: It’s just a shame there are not more dog friendly beaches.

Footballers and aristocrats

LINDA HALL

WHENEVER Spain wins an important footballing event, the Spanish say, “We knew all along we were going to win.”

If they lose they say, “We knew all along they were going to lose” because football fans are demanding and fickle lovers.

Whichever way you look at it, though, football is Spain’s national sport in a way that bullfighting rarely was and never will be again.

That doesn’t mean that every Spanish man is or was football crazy, but although my husband can take football or leave it, he still remembers that two Real Madrid players, Jose Santamaria and Hector Rial, lived just round the corner from them in the La Properidad district in the early 1960s.

Fabulously rich Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players now live in exclusive urbanisations on the outskirts of the city, the same way that fabulously rich Manchester United and Manchester City stars generally live in Cheshire mansions.

In contrast, Santamaria and Rial lived in unremarkable apartments, although they earned a great deal more than a labourer like my late father­inlaw.

Some Madrid districts had developed on rather eccentric lines, so it was not unheard ­ of for a workingclass family like the one I married into to live in a modest house next door to the modestly opulent residence of a Borbon duke.

And in those undemocratic times, it was considered quite normal for said duke’s grandchildren to play in the street with my future husband and his hordes of brothers and sisters.

That was when they were pre ­ adolescent, of course.

Once they began to grow up, class reared its head and off they went to school, never to be seen or socialised with again.

Ironic to think that if Santamaria and Rial were around now they would be earning salaries that resembled telephone numbers. They would also be members of the new aristocracy, giving much more tone to a neighbourhood than any number of Borbon dukes.

Awe-inspiring

SALLY UNDERWOOD POLITICAL ANIMAL

THE first time I ever visited the Houses of Parliament I was going to see my dad in court in the House of Lords (back when it was England and Wales’s highest court and before the Supreme Court we have now).

I bought a pack of colouring pencils with teeny portcullises on before immediately leaving them in the chamber, causing a minor bomb scare.

There were men in long wigs (“daddy, why’s that man dressed as a spaniel?”), the place seemed mystical and ancient, and everything just felt as if I was part of something… well, big. The half day off school didn’t hurt either.

In short, I fell in love with parliament that day.

Fast forward 14 years and I was once again in the same building for my very first job interview for a researcher position, starting a career that lasted several years.

In that time I can genuinely say that

however long the hours, however difficult the boss or however weird the work (and some of it was pretty weird), I never had a bad day in that extraordinary building.

From the very spot where the trial of Charles I took place (one for republicans) to the robing room where every monarch since Queen Victoria has donned the crown we see at the state opening of parliament, every corner of the Houses of Parliament is steeped in awe­inspiring history. They also serve some of the best sausage sandwiches around (in one of their approximately 57,000 cafes).

Yes, parliament really is one of the most remarkable buildings in the world.

And better still, it’s all ours.

House of Commons debates are open to members of the public for free and you don’t even need tickets for most of them in advance. You can also book tours.

If you still have UK voting rights and write to your MP, they may even invite you for tea on the terrace.

So whenever you’re next in the UK, please go. You’re unlikely to regret it.

Oh and if you do visit, enjoy a sausage sandwich for me.

IF you are looking for secure, low­cost, convenient parking for Almeria and Alicante Airport, AA Parking has the best deals and a quick and friendly service, also offering preferential parking rates at Murcia Airport.

Based in Mojacar, Almeria and Alicante, AA Parking provides private airport parking at Almeria and Alicante Airport and Costa Coches will provide you with a clean, wellmaintained and safe vehicle for your onward journey.

With 12 years of experience in car parking, you can have the peace of mind that your vehicle will be stored safely, securely and conveniently ­ especially with AA Parking’s handy meet­and­greet service, meaning you can avoid lengthy transfers and loading heavy luggage on and off buses.

At AA Parking, your vehicle will be safe and protected from the elements for the same price as many companies that would leave your car out in the wind, rain, and sun, possibly causing damage and fading of

the paintwork.

With their convenient dual airport service, you can take advantage of unlimited parking at both Alicante and Almeria airports for 12 months. Contracts for six to 12 months include unlimited drop­offs and

pick up at the other!

AA Parking provide a variety of services for your vehicle including ITVs, garage servicing and repairs, valets, and bodywork while your car is parked ­ all saving you time and money. The helpful and professional team will even ensure that your car starts and that the tyres are pumped up and ready for your onward journey when you collect it. When you leave your car with AA parking, it will be returned to you fully serviced and sparkling clean.

If you need to rent a car for a trip or holiday, Costa Coches is one of the most trusted and reliable in Almeria, Alicante and Murcia ­ even providing emergency and last­minute vehicles. With over 10 years of experience in the car hire business, Costa Coches has perfected its business model to make it as convenient, low­cost and efficient for you as possible. Forget the days of waiting around with all of your luggage, you will be met at the airport of your choice and be on your way within 10 minutes!

Sally’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

pick­ups and, if you are a business traveller and travel on a weekly basis, AA Parking will provide you with a tailor­made contract to suit your needs and requirements. You will have unlimited use of both airport parking and you can even park at one and

Apartment with incredible sea views

AMAZING sea views from this beautifully presented apartment, over the bay of San Juan de Los Terreros, offering views of the whole village, sea, and mountains beyond.

Incredible price as a large garage is also included in the price of the property offering fabulous space for storage, car, boats, etc. Lift access from the street level, and the best swimming in the area.

High ­ quality, spacious apartment with two bedrooms and a large bathroom. Enter into a hallway, the bedrooms and bathrooms lead off. Bathroom with a full bath and a separate shower cubicle. Both bedrooms are spacious with fitted wardrobes and air conditioning. Down the hallway, fully fitted kitchen with all appliances, utility area leading off. The kitchen has an

archway to allow you to enjoy time with the family and the views, whilst cooking. A very spacious, lounge/dining room, leads out to the well ­ proportioned terrace with plenty of room to enjoy outside dining and sunbathing, and of course the fabulous views over the whole village and the Mediterranean Sea.

with pleasant areas for rest ing, also has the best swimming pool in the area. The apartment is located a 10 min walk to the town centre. A multinational restaurant and cafe located just under the development.

Enjoy outdoor Spanish living at its very best. A mystical location, and a perfect choice for either permanent living, rental opportunities, or a holiday home. A very popular choice among mixed communities, there is a welcoming feel about these homes.

DINNER PARTIES FROM HELL

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

‘VLEATHER, we’re told, is still one of the hottest trends. In other words, vegan clothes ­ made of oil industry plastics, with PVC the world’s third­most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer. Great! That’ll help the climate and the oceans. The irony! No animal died making these clothes, but many will when the clothes are discarded. Plastic particles are killing animals that are choking on the stuff.

Virtue ­ signalling clothes made by people jetting across the world, made in sweat shops by children, like most of the fashion industry products. And inevitably, VLeather’s found its way into all the major fast fashion stores. Plastic

shoes? Just call them vegan and they’ll be fashionable! Just don’t ask about the Greta Footprint...

But let’s get to the meat (sorry, couldn’t resist) of the issue. The problem with veganism (and vegetarianism) is that it seems to turn what simply amounts to a food choice into, basically, a religion. One which apparently requires its adherents to try to make converts of the rest of us in a humour ­ free, hectoring fashion with about as much warmth and brio as a dinner party jointly hosted by (politics aside) Nicola Sturgeon, Keir Starmer and Theresa May.

Nora’s latest thriller.

Nora Johnson’s 11 critically acclaimed psychological crime thrillers (www.norajohnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

NoraJohnson’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

The urbanisation is a south facing, well ­ maintained, gated community

A ROAD trip is an amazing way to see new places, but how do you go about planning one? Here we share some advice from road trip experts on how to build your ideal camping road trip.

1. Decide on a format

How do you want to travel on your road trip? Do you want to travel in a linear way, going from point A to point B? Or will you travel on a circular route, ending up where you began? Will you break up the journey by stopping for long periods, or sleep in a different place each night? These questions are a great starting point.

2. Transport

ONE of the best things about camping is getting to enjoy a meal surrounded by nature. But it isn’t always easy to know what to cook once you arrive. If you love cooking but aren’t sure of how you can transfer your skills to a camping trip, we have some top tips for you. Here we bring you a list of three camping staples, so you can have your tastiest trip yet!

• Smoky beans

Take advantage of the rustic camping atmosphere by cooking with smoky bar­

Rural road trip

choice of vehicle will depend on how far you want to travel, your budget, how many passengers you have and the weather.

3. Plan ahead

With a road trip you can discover plenty of new places on the move.

Decide on a method of transport. Will you use a car, a caravan, a van, or even active travel like cycling? Your

It can be helpful to draw up a list of places you want to visit on your trip such as national parks, beaches or cultural attractions. This can help you to book into campsites or plan connections if necessary, like a ferry or train tickets for a day trip.

Carry on camping

Betty Henderson

AN exciting camping initiative that was launched back in February this year has made excellent progress and is now set to move to its next stage.

The Spanish Camping Experiences project is one branch of the Spanish Tourism Experiences Programme which seeks to boost tourist numbers by developing strong relationships between private and public destinations in the tourism industry.

• Halloumi

Camping is a great excuse to whip out your favourite barbecue recipes. Soak up the delicious barbecue flavours by cooking halloumi on the grill. Serve up with burgers or in a salad.

• Chorizo

becue flavours like paprika. Simple black beans are an excellent ingredient to take camping as you can cook them at any time of day. Try

a bean burrito for breakfast or jazz it up with some eggs, sausages and tomatoes for a filling and comforting onepot dinner.

As this Spanish sausage is already cured, it is the perfect camping staple. Cut it into slices for a snack or add pieces to an omelette.

The latest stage of the Camping Experiences plan was announced at the National Camping Congress held in November in Gijón. The next phase of the plan has a budget of €400,000, using European Funds to develop a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible camping policy nationwide.

Here are the key proposals in the plan, which are sure to make camping more accessible to all audiences:

• Designing an online platform to promote and market national camping experiences and devel­

The camping industry in Spain is set to become more accessible for 21st century travellers with a new digital policy.

oping a stronger social media presence.

• Creating a professional network of camping industry figures to encourage better collaborations between accommodation and activity providers and enrich tourism opportunities.

• Developing further experiences for camping tourists including wine tours, cultural activities, cycling trips, and active and nature experiences.

• Promoting year­round experiences to prevent seasonal dependence on tourism.

• Creating more green camping experiences in line with sustainability goals.

Photo credit: Jose Luis Carrascosa / shutterstock.com

Photo

Photo GO LOCAL WHEN YOU GO SHOPPINGGO LOCAL!

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Rustic staples

Most popular pets

Betty Henderson

CATS are independent, and less demanding and easier to care for, but they can be cold towards people. Dogs are intelligent, affectionate and playful, but they require a lot of attention and time.

Ever wondered how people around the world choose between the popular pets? A new study has revealed the popularity of cats and dogs as pets in each European country, and had some fascinating results.

Cat loving countries: Cats are more popular in more European countries than dogs, with 27 countries choosing cats as their favourite pet. Top European countries for cats include Italy, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Greece and, Romania.

Dog loving countries: Dogs were the pet of choice in 11 European countries including Spain, the UK, Ireland, France,

THE festive period is one of the most popular times of year to get a puppy, but there are several challenges with getting a young pet that are important to keep in mind.

Here we share some advice from vets on how you can prepare yourself and your home to welcome a puppy, so that the task doesn’t become overwhelming or too difficult.

1. Think about space Getting a puppy is a hugely exciting decision, but it is important to consider the situation from a puppy’s perspective as well. Key

Croatia, Serbia, Albania, and the Czech Republic.

So, it looks like cats have the popularity vote in Europe. Reasons for the results include factors such as people living in apartments without space to exercise a dog, or working long hours, making cats

smarter choices for a pet. Global data similarly revealed that cats were more popular pets than dogs in 91 countries, with dogs more popular pets in 76 countries. But trends are changing all the time and the debate over which pet is our favourite is far from over!

Puppy power

things to consider include whether you have a safe and secure space that a puppy isn’t going to run away

from or get stuck in and whether you have enough space for a separate eating and sleeping area.

2. Consider lifestyle

Do you have the time to look after a puppy? Puppies need plenty of social activity, entertaining, and exercise, as well as training. They also can’t be left alone for long periods. Being able to commit quality time to your puppy is an important factor when deciding about getting a puppy.

3. Puppy­proof your home

Puppies can be destructive, which can also be harmful for themselves. Move all hazards at a puppy ­ level including electric cords, chemicals, and houseplants.

Pet preening

THE winter brings particular challenges for pet owners thanks to wet weather and muddy puddles. Keeping your pet clean and well­groomed is crucial to its overall well­being and happiness. Follow these tips from pet lovers to keep your pet having fun while keeping it clean and healthy.

1. Bath your pet

A bath can help your pet to feel refreshed, just as we do after taking a bath or shower. Not all breeds love bathing but it is still important for your pet’s hygiene and to prevent parasites like ticks going unnoticed.

Regular baths can keep your pet’s fur from getting matted and can help you to catch shedding hair, as well as helping you to keep your home clean!

2. Tend to paws

Paws are particularly sensitive to cold weather, wet surfaces, and fallen leaves. Tending to your pet’s paws with a cloth and some warm water can help you to catch dried or cracked skin, which could end up being painful for your pet if left untreated.

3. Brush their fur

As well as giving your pet regular baths, brushing their fur is a quick and easy way to keep your pet feeling fresh and clean. A quick daily brush of the fur can keep it looking glossy.

BATH TIME: Not all pets love a bath, but it is an important task to keep their skin and fur healthy.

Photo credit: Bachkova Natalia / shutterstock.com

CATS OR DOGS? The age old debate is currently being won by cats says a new study. Photo credit:

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ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

AS marques go, few can match Sir William Lyon’s Jaguar, especially when you consider he began building sidecars in Blackpool. In its modern incarnation Jaguar is now one of the companies that’s leading the charge to electrification. Their range already encompasses pure electric, plug in hybrid and mild hybrid models, including a mild hybrid diesel power unit.

The lead ­ in XF is the RDynamic S which is priced from €40,909/£35,100 with a 2.0­litre, four­cylinder, mild hybrid diesel power unit. Even in this entry ­ level model Jaguar don’t stint on the standard equipment with adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking and rear camera, LED lights, auto lights and wipers, auto dimming

Refined with a sporting stance

an eight speed automatic

I’m a fan of more traditional, lighter and arguably more British interior style rather than the

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Jaguar XF R-Dynamic S

• Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel with mild hybrid assistance developing 204PS Gears: 8-speed automatic

• Price: €40,909/£35,100

• Performance: 0-100 kph (60 mph) 7.1 seconds/Maximum Speed 235 kph (146 mph)

• Economy: 4.99l/100km (56.6 mpg) combined driving –WLTP

Much to their credit Jaguar offer a range of both light and dark interiors at no extra cost.

• Emissions: 131 g/km – WLTP Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

rear view mirror, powered front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and powered door mirrors and more. Of course consult the options list ­ to say it’s big is somewhat of an understatement ­ and the price can escalate dramatically.

Although only a 2.0­litre,

four ­ cylinder mild hybrid diesel propels the XF past the benchmark 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and returns very decent fuel economy. The XF can also be specified with all ­ wheel ­ drive rather than the standard rear ­ wheel ­ drive along with a range of petrol engines. All the XF range has

I criticised the original XE and XF for what I saw as a drop in quality. That has certainly been rectified and the XF feels like it is back where it belongs on that side of the quality equation. There’s also a lesson for digitisation obsessives in car design, it doesn’t have to be compli­

cated and can be intuitive, as the XF demonstrates perfectly.

On the road the XF doesn’t disappoint and despite a mere four­cylinders retains a commendably refined air. With ride options ranging from sport to waft mode it’s a delight and still retains a special feel that some

German marques lack.. On the debit side the XF isn’t that spacious considering its size. There are also still traces of cheaper plastics that should never be allowed inside a Jaguar! Overall though this is a car that acquits itself with considerable aplomb and which can happily park on my drive anytime.

dark hues of many modern cars.

JAGUAR XF: This car is a delight and still retains a special feel that some German marques lack.

WINTER is coming, and that means some extra car care is in order! Although Spain doesn’t get as cold as many other countries, common winter issues including low temperatures, frost, and heavy rainfall can take a toll on your car. Here we share some top tips from mechanics on how you can ensure your

Winter ready

car runs without a hitch during the winter.

1. Consider parking solutions

Moving your car to an indoor garage is a smart choice during the winter.

Inside, your car won’t be exposed to the elements which can speed up the wearing ­ down process of your car. If you can’t store your car indoors, consider a cover which can protect the windshield from frost and stop your engine fluids from freezing, saving you time.

2. Prepare for frost

In the coldest months of January and February, frost can appear in many regions in Spain. Be prepared by stocking up on anti­freeze and purchasing a scraper so you can get going in no time!

3. Tyre care

If you live in a mountainous area or plan on travelling to a snowy or icy area, consider switching to winter tyres, or ensuring that you have all ­ seasons tyres ready to go. These tyres are better equipped for wintery weather, protecting you against accidents.

Will the lions roar Match-fixing

SPAIN’S National Police force launched the second phase of the ‘Coniferous’ operation at the end of November, which was originally launched to investigate allegations of match­fixing in football leagues in Spain and Gibraltar to facilitate illegal betting.

The indictment of about 20 people is scheduled to be added to the 27 that were already being investigated by the Sanlucar de Barrameda’s No4 court in Cadiz Province. The individuals face charges of belonging to a criminal organisation and corruption among individuals in the sports field.

It is believed the network could have manipulated the results of more than 30 first, second and third­division RFEF matches, as well as games in the Gibraltar National League. A total of €500,000 is estimated to have been profited.

The main focus was reportedly placed on active players who could have executed the fixes on the pitch. Various other individuals who sold their personal data to the leaders of the group so that they could open accounts with no prior records in different betting operators were also placed under investigation.

AFTER an impressive performance against Senegal, England set up a mouthwatering clash against current world champions France.

On Saturday, December 10 at 8pm, Gareth Southgate’s England square up against a French side led by arguably the star of the World Cup so far, Kylian Mbappe.

With highly sought­after midfielder Jude Bellingham powering the Three Lions with his lung­busting displays and goals flowing freely among an impressive attacking front line, the clash with France is a must­see.

If England can beat the French, their next match would be on Wednesday, December 14, where they will face ei­

Grand Prix cancelled

NEXT year’s Chinese Grand Prix has been cancelled due to continuing strict Covid measures imposed in the country.

The Formula 1 race was due to return to the country’s most populous city of Shanghai in April next year for the first time since 2019, in the fourth round of a record 24­race season.

But Chinese President Xi Jinping’s continuing zero­Covid policy, which has seen the country in perpetual lockdowns since the beginning of the pandemic, has caused F1 to decide the race will no longer go ahead.

In a statement released on Friday December 2, a spokesperson for Formula 1 said: “Formula 1 can confirm, following dialogue with the promoter and relevant authorities, that the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the Covid­19 situation.

The cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, held at the Shanghai International Circuit, reduces next season’s schedule to 23 races ­ still a record number for F1.

Meanwhile, the upcoming season will also see the debut of a race on the strip in Las Vegas, in the western state of Nevada in the United States.

ther Spain, Morocco, Portugal or Switzerland.

On the other side of the draw, Argentina and Brazil are one match away from setting up a potential ‘clash of the titans’. However, Netherlands and Croatia will be looking to prevent this.

In fact, the Netherlands have been one of the surprises of the tournament and will be hoping to cause an upset against Messi’s Argentina on Friday, December 9 at 8pm.

Prior to the Netherlands vs Ar gentina match, Brazil take on a Croat ia side fresh off of a dramatic penalty win over Japan.

Brazil strolled past South Korea and established themselves as the team to beat. Croatia will aim to stop Neymar and co when the two sides meet on Friday, December 9 at 4pm.

A semi­final between two of the aforementioned four teams will take place on Tuesday, December 13 at 8pm.

The Qatar World Cup final is sched uled for Sunday, December 18 at 4pm.

ENGLAND: Play their next match against France.