Costa Blanca North 5 • 11 January 2023 Issue 1957

WALKING WONDERS

JOIN in the fun, walk along and be the change.

On February 4, Project 4 All is organising a charity walk through the beautiful streets of Benissa. The walk will cover 100 kilometres in total, but will be divided into 20 walks of five kilometres.

Project 4 All is a nondenominational, selffunded non­profit organisation that relies solely on donations and an amazing team of volunteers who are committed to helping feed the homeless in Spain.

The walk is being organised to raise money for a loyal volunteer and dear friend to the organisation, Tomek. Tomek is the homeless Polish man who recently hit headlines after being the victim of a British stag party in Benidorm who paid Tomek €100 to have a name tattooed on his forehead.

At the time Tomek was vulnerable, homeless and having problems, so €100 seemed an answer to his prayers.

Tomek has now turned his life around and is

dedicated to helping the hungry and needy, but sadly he struggling constantly with pain due to a chronic and debilitating hip disease called Osteonecrosis.

If he wants to continue to function normally he will have to undergo not one, but two hip surg ­

eries. Please help.

For more information head to the website: www.project4all.org or WhatsApp (+34) 643 737 584.

To donate go to: https://gofund.me/2d273 07c

4 All

Committed to quality

Image: Project

GANDIA has celebrated December as a SICTED destination (Integral System of Spanish Tourist Quality in Destinations) and has obtained 131 awards in the quality seal of Gandia as a tourist destination.

More and more public bodies and private companies in Gandia and La Safor have joined the project that began in the

city of Gandia in 2014.

Services from some of the municipalities that joined SICTED in 2021, such as Simat de la Valldigna, Xeresa, Daimus or Potries, have been distinguished.

The town hall has confirmed that Gandia is a tourist destination that remains committed to quality and continuous improvement.

The Walk of the Hips.

A TOTAL of 404 runners gathered for the traditional sporting event, the Sant Silvestre race in Altea, on Tuesday, December 27.

The race, organised by the Sports Department of the Altea Town Council and Grupo Brotons, began at 8.00pm from the Placa Jose Maria Planelles.

The low temperatures that were recorded on the night did not prevent hundreds of people from taking part in this classic Christmas race which covers a distance of 3,900 metres. In this non­competitive race, prizes were awarded to the top three in the men’s and women’s categories.

The prize for the local sports club with the

ALICANTE Film Office has processed 50 film shoots, including films, series, documentaries, photo shoots and commercials in 2022 and has provided advice to another five productions.

International productions such as ‘The Interpreter’, the Amazon Prime series ‘Sin Huellas’ and a documentary by C Tangana are the most outstanding. Alicante was also chosen for the British programme ‘A Place In The Sun’

most participants was awarded to the UD Altea and the award for the athletics club with the most participants went to the Benidorm team.

The councillor for Sports, Pere Barber thanked all the people and companies that helped make the race a success once again.

The new Hollywood

which promotes the purchase of homes abroad, a popular German travel programme and another Japanese one, as well as advertisements for large cosmetics and textile companies, among others.

The locations have been varied and have covered the neighbourhoods, the city centre and the beaches, not forgetting the Castle of Santa

Barbara. In fact, the variety of possible locations within the same city is one of the features most valued by production companies and advertising agencies.

The Alicante Film Office has now joined the Spain Film Commission in order to attract more film and series shoots, multiplying their visibility on national and international circuits.

Competitive posters

THE department of Culture of Calpe has called for entries for the National Easter Week Poster Competition Calpe 2023.

The aim of this competition is to promote one of the most important and attractive festivities of the community. The winning poster will become the image that announces and represents the Holy Week of Calpe 2023.

The competition is open to artists of any nationality with a valid residence permit in Spain. A maximum of three works may be submitted, which must be original and unpublished in digital format (pdf), in vertical size (50x70cm) with a resolution of 72 pixels and a maximum weight of 40 MB.

The winning entry will

Fancy footwork Q for Quality

IN December the La Nucia Tourist Office received the ‘Q for Tourism Quality’ certification. This national award is bestowed for continuous improvement and compliance with quality and sustainability standards in its operations.

The ‘Q’ gives the tourist establishments that hold the certificate prestige and enhances the reputation of the branch.

Establishments endorsed by the ‘Q for Tourism Quality’ have passed strict audits that ensure that their service is a guarantee of quality, safety and professionalism. All this is to ensure the best

receive a prize of €1,500. Entries must be submitted online (a digital signature certificate is required). The following application form must be filled out SUB16 competition: Solicitud Inscripcion Concurso, in the Electronic Headquarters of the Calpe Town Hall: calp.sed.es

Those interested have until 2.00pm on Monday January 9, to register.

possible experience for tourists.

Obtaining the mark implies, at an external level for the establishments, an increase in the satisfaction of users or visitors to the tourist office and an improvement in the reputation of the organisation. Internally, it has improved the management and efficiency of the day to day activities, as well as the resources and has also established a system to effectively control the organisation’s performance.

ALTEA FUN: For traditional sporting event.

Image: Altea City Council

Electric burger

IBERDROLA and Burger King have collaborated to install 50 charging points for electric vehicles, 26 of them in Alicante Province, in the car parks of the company’s establishments located in the Valencian Community. These facilities are available to users 24 hours a day.

Gandia tourism

“OUR Tourism Sustainability Plan is going to make Gandia the most sustainable tourism destination in Spain. We are already one of the national destinations of reference, I would go so far as to say one of the international destinations of reference,” said the mayor, Jose Manuel Prieto.

Historic heritage

THE Department of Historical Heritage has confirmed it will protect the lime kiln discovered at the Villa Giacomina in La Villajoyosa. The villa, built in 1920, is an emblematic building of Villajoyosa’s heritage and landscape.

Change of name

THE Federation of Friends of the Marina Alta has formally submitted a request to the Generalitat Valenciana to change the capital of the municipality from Denia to Pego. They said Pego has more characteristics to be able to fulfil this important condition.

Stop the smell

NEIGHBOURS and ecologists have asked the Generalitat to stop the extension of the landfill in El Campello. They warn of serious deficiencies in the project, which they consider illegal, and say bad smells persist despite the €20 million invested in recent improvement works.

Grant for L’Alfas

L’ALFAS DEL PI has received a grant of €2.4 million to implement the Tourism Sustainability Plan in the municipality. Works are to be carried out from 2023, distributed over three years.

Cartoons with heart

THE Arts Society Marina Alta’s final extravaganza of the 2022 season was an extraordinary presentation by the gifted, warm­hearted and multi­talented ‘cartoonist’ Harry Venning.

In addition to Harry’s remarkable catalogue of related anecdotes, story telling through his pictorial art and ‘off the cuff’ jokes, he provided one lucky attendee with a cartoonist’s vision of themselves. Before Harry’s presentation, a raffle was held, with the winning participant having his or her likeness drawn by Mr Venning himself.

The raffle was held by the Arts Society in aid of their chosen charity, CEE Gargasindi School for Students with Disabilities and a sum of €100 was raised on the

Bank holidays

EL CAMPELLO has now confirmed dates for its local and national bank holidays for 2023.

This year, the two local holidays will be on Monday, July 17, and Monday, October 16, as the festivities of the Virgen del Carmen and Santa Teresa de Jesus fall on a Sunday.

According to the resolution that establishes the working calendar for next year, these holidays are in addition to the national and regional holi­

days, which will be on January 6 (Epiphany of the Lord), April 7 (Good Friday), April 10 (Easter Monday), May 1 (Labour Day), June 24 (St John’s Day), August 15 (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), October 9 (Day of the Valencian Community), October 12 (Spanish bank holiday), November 1 (All Saints’ Day), December 6 (Constitution Day), December 8 (Immaculate Conception), and finally, December 25 (Chrstmas Day).

Big spenders

DENIA Town Council launched a Christmas campaign of consumer vouchers at the beginning of December. The initiative was taken on by 85 shops in the city, in which 6,556 vouchers have been spent.

The total expenditure in Denia’s commerce amounts to €328,520, of which €164,260 corresponds to the town council’s investment and the other half to the shoppers’ expenses.

The total amount of vouchers downloaded was 7,766, 84 per cent of which were finally used. Of these, 2,188 were vouchers of €10, 2,534 vouchers of €20 and 1,834 vouchers of €50.

As head of the Department of Commerce, Councillor Sandra Gertrudix, highlighted the success of the Christmas campaign, with figures which, she said, exceeded those of the two previous editions of consumer vouchers.

Gertrudix commented that “previous experiences have helped people to have more confidence in the voucher.”

day with additional pledges from members to support ‘Project Fish’. This year members of the Arts Society have been mixing with the students, under the watchful eye of Mireille Vertterli (the curator of Gallery Arte44 in Calpe), to produce individual hand painted clay fish which will be presented to the school later in the year.Thanks to Blevins Franks in Javea and Inmobres in Calpe for their continued support. For more details of the Arts Society Marina Alta contact Linda sc.marinaalta@theartssociety or David ch.marinaalta@theartssociety.org

Golfers on the go

MONTGO Golf Society played the last competition of 2022 at Oliva Nova GG on December 30, 2022 sponsored by the Society.

The winner was John Macritchie with 39 Stableford points.

In second place on 36 Stableford points was Alan Lowans beating Pete Turner into third place on countback.

The two nearest the pin prizes on offer on the fifth and 18th Holes in two and

taking home the spoils was John Day and Caz Welch.

There were no two’s so the stock of coveted Montgo golf balls remains intact.

Next week’s competition, the first competition of 2023 is a Stableford sponsored by John Macritchie, and this will be the first qualifiers for the Order of Merit and The Eclectic for 2023. The society would Iike to wish all their members a very happy and prosperous New Year.

New bus shelters

IF you have ever been stood at a bus stop in the pouring rain you will be pleased to hear that La Villajoyosa has now provided new bus shelters at the Av Mariners, partida Xauxelles and partida Chovaes, near the roundabout at the entrance to the town centre of the municipality.

The shelters replace some damaged shelters and other bus stops that lacked these elements that allow passengers to shelter from the rain or sun.

“The installation of these new shelters aims to improve the current service to users of this service at some of the bus stops most frequented by users of these bus lines,” confirmed the councillor for Transport of the city council of La Villajoyosa, Kiko Carreres. The councillor also confirmed that

the council will study the possibility that other intercity bus stops which do not have these shelters may have them if there is a high demand.

Murla school donation

A GROUP of friends who play paddle­tennis in Murla each week presented the local primary school with €400.

Last June, the keen players, all retired, also presented the school with a €400 donation. “I forewarned Raquel, the head mistress, who suggested presenting the money during the carol service in the village square,” Jeff Waller told the Euro Weekly News. “All the children performed dances and sang carols before breaking up for Christmas. I’d guess well over 100 parents and friends were there,” he said.

Instead of just handing over the four €100 notes, Jeff and his friends put the money in a red envelope and added some balloons. After the first donation, Jeff and the paddle­tennis group sent copies of the Euro Weekly News to the school, the local bar and the town hall which allows them to play free, providing they contribute to local causes.

LIKENESS: ‘The Winner’ - James H.

Photo credit G Ward

MURLA DONATION: Jeff Waller with primary school head teacher and pupils.

Photo credit: Jeff Waller

Finestrat’s finest

TWO young men from Finestrat, Miguel Selles and Pablo Martin, are heading to Adana in Turkey in the New Year to bring hope to refugee children.

Miguel confirmed: “We have managed to raise more than €2,000 to buy toys that we will distribute to more than 600 children, from babies to 16 years old, who are in refugee camps in Adana and Reyhanli, which is on the border with Syria.

“We have been looking for toys that are egalitarian and also encourage group play. We are talking about children who may not have

received a gift for years given the adverse circumstances in which they live.”

The mayor of Finestrat, Juanfran Perez Llorca, said: “Once again I am moved by the degree of involvement of the youth of Finestrat and their desire to help in such sensitive issues as children and their survival in refugee camps.

“Finding people from your town who sacrifice their time with their family at Christmas to go thousands of kilometres away to make these children happy fills me with pride.”

Panoramic travel

WIDE support has been given to the planned cable car linking the towns of Calpe, Benissa and Teulada Moraira.

This project, which has been under study for years, has finally been set in motion thanks to the collaboration of different administrations and private companies.

The cable car will have a total length of 14.5 kilometres and will link the three municipalities in a 30minute journey. In addition to the main stations, the line is expected to have two intermediate stations at strategic points along the route, allowing users to enjoy panoramic views along the entire route, both of the rural landscapes and the coastline.

The ropeway is expected to be a sustainable and economic alternative for the inhabitants of the three municipalities, as well as a tourist attrac­

tion for visitors. In addition, it is expected to contribute to improving connectivity between the localities and fostering economic development in the area.

The construction of the cable car, which has an initial budget of €28 million, will begin in the coming months and is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.

CABLE CAR: Will stop twice along the route for users to enjoy the views.

Image: Marcin Krzyzak/Shutterstock.com.

Streaming success stories

THE last year was filled with changes in many industries in Spain, but one industry whose success hasn’t been as affected by the pandemic is the television streaming industry. And while the rankings appear to have stayed fairly constant, there were still some surprises in 2022.

Data on streaming platform use released on Friday, December 30 found that Netflix remains the most popular choice among consumers who use streaming services. In fact, nearly 57 per cent of streaming platform users opted to buy a subscription.

Amazon Prime closely followed, with just over 50 per cent of users also choosing this service. Third on the list was a surprise with HBO Max which shot up five percentage points from last year to be used by nearly 27 per cent of streaming service users. HBO Max soared past Disney Plus which is used by 25 per cent of users.

The last service on the top five list was Movistar+, which although used by 18 per cent of watchers, has actually lost users in the last year.

New home in Spain

A TOTAL of 63.47 per cent of the people who have obtained temporary protection in Spain are women, while 33.69 per cent are under 18 years of age.

Spain has exceeded 160,000 temporary protections for refugees from the war in Ukraine, more than 10 months after the start of the war.

Since its activation on

Becoming popular

THE Survey of Essential Characteristics of the Population and Housing (ECEPOV) of 2021, which has just been released, suggests that Spanish remains the dominant and preferred language in Spain but that the use of English is increasing.

According to a report by a Spanish news outlet on Monday, January 2 tourism and the rise of business professionals who often work with technology or across continents are at the centre of the trend.

They also point out that whilst many politicians push the need to be patriotic and protect your own language, young people are learning that the ability to speak other languages has value in a globalised world.

The survey results suggest that one in four people can speak or understand English, although the research did not ask people to clarify their level of ability. As with English­speaking people learning Spanish, the ability to speak is far lower than the ability to understand or read.

March 10 and up to the close of business on Wednesday, December 28, the Office of Asylum and Refugees (OAR) of the Ministry of the Interior and the National Police have processed and granted a total of 160,756 protections to Ukrainian refugees in Spain.

This figure places Spain among the European countries that have granted the most protection to citizens and residents of Ukraine. All of this is possible thanks to the mechanism put in place urgently by the Spanish government to comply with the European Union agreement, which, for the first time in history, authorised the application of the Temporary Protection Directive.

Ukrainian refugees.

Image: Maksym Kapliuk/Shutterstock.com

Netflix remains Spain’s most popular streaming site.

Photo credit: Ivan Marc / shutterstock.com

New Year’s honour

MICHELE MASSON , President of Help Vega Baja, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to British Nationals in Spain in the New Year Honours List, published on Saturday December 31, 2022.

There are more than 2,000 British Nationals living in the area covered by Help Vega Baja and for many of them the charity has been a lifeline in difficult times.

Since becoming its President in 2015, Michele Masson has steered the charity through the twin challenges of Brexit and Covid, as well as the severe flooding that hit the Vega in September 2019providing a source of constant support to the community when they needed it most. More recently, she has corralled the charity’s volunteers to gather supplies of food

and clothes for the local Ukrainian association to distribute to the high volume of refugees arriving in Torrevieja.

HMA Hugh Elliott said: “I know that my colleagues in our Alicante consulate find it hard to

imagine the south of the province without Help Vega Baja and, indeed, without Michele. Under her leadership, the charity has become one of our key partners in the region - assisting with complex consular cases and acting

as our eyes and ears on the ground. During the pandemic, Michele worked with us on a partnership pilot project to distribute consular funding via food vouchers to vulnerable families whose income had been lost due to Covid restrictions. Michele is a wonderful example of leading by doing and I am delighted that she has been honoured for her work.”

Michele Masson said: “I am honoured to be awarded the British Empire Medal for services to British Nationals in Spain by his Majesty, King Charles III. The charity world has many challenges, but knowing at the end of each day we have made a difference makes everything we are faced with worthwhile. I extend my appreciation to colleagues, friends and family who support me. Thank you all.”

MICHELE MASSON: Awarded a British Empire Medal.

Image: British Embassy Madrid

Improving awareness

ACCORDING to a report by a European news outlet on Wednesday, December 28, Spain has ended the year on a tragic note with December being the third deadliest month since records began for gender­based violence.

Some 46 women have lost their lives in this way during 2022 taking the number to 1,179 since 2003. Although December has been one of the worst months, the year has seen one of the lowest number of deaths since records began.

Spain continues to suffer from gender ­ based violence, where partners take the lives of their wives or girlfriends, despite concerted efforts across the country to bring an end to the problem.

The issue has been given enormous publicity throughout the year, with most town and city councils having held regular events and campaigns to highlight the issue.

SPAIN has taken a leap towards normalising relations with Venezuela as the government appointed a new Spanish Ambassador to Venezuela on Thursday, December 28.

Ramón Santos has become the first ambassador appointed to the Spanish mission in Venezuela since relations became frosty in

Rural tourism review

AS the tourism market evolves, the Spanish tourism industry continues to keep up with the latest trends. This was proved by the excellent results of the rural tourism sector recorded in an industry ­ wide yearly review which was published on Thursday, December 29.

The report found that the summer is the high season for rural tourism,

with the sector accounting for nearly 20 per cent of accommodation bookings in August, and 15 per cent in July. But there was also a surprise on the list, December was the third most popular month for rural tourism experiences with 15 per cent of bookings made during the month being related to rural tourism.

The report also found that Catalonia was the

Relations thawing out

2020, signalling a new era of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The landmark decision also means Spanish humanitarian aid will now reach Venezuelan people.

Spain had withdrawn former ambassador, Jesús

Silva to protest the November 2020 elections that were considered a sham, and led to widespread poverty. Two years later, Santos, who had worked as the Chargé d’Affairs at the Spanish Embassy for Venezuela has

most popular region for rural tourism, followed by Castilla y Leon, and Andalucia.

The sector covers experiences in the countryside, which are becoming increasingly popular with accessibility to camping and other rural accommodation improving and the development of new speciality experiences such as wine and gourmet agricultural tours.

become the latest ambassador.

Speaking about the decision, Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Abares highlighted the importance of Spain’s relationship with the Latin American country, saying that Spanish representation in Venezuela is absolutely necessary.

Economic evolution

SPAIN snatched up the fourth position in a global investigation by The Economist into economic recovery from the pandemic.

The data which was released on Saturday, December 24 analysed the economic position of 34 ‘developed’ countries, using five indicators to measure recovery.

Despite 2022 being considered a negative economic year for much of the world, there have been some surprising economic victories in certain countries, and

one of them is Spain. Indeed, the leader of the rankings was a shock to many economic commentators.

Greece came in top position, thanks to a huge drop of 16 per cent in public debt in relation to GDP. Portugal was ranked second, Ireland came third.

Spain and Israel tied in fourth place, with an economic recovery better than that of the UK and the USA.

Spain’s success is thought to be due to measures to calm inflation.

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx

• Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology

• Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology

• Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour

• Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch

• Ophthalmology

• Dentistry and dental surgery & more

• Import - Export

TOURISM INDUSTRY: Is booming thanks to interest in rural tourism in regions including Cordoba in Andalucia.

Photo credit: joserpizarro / shutterstock.com

International investment

FOREIGN investment in the Spanish property market reached an alltime high during 2022 according to a report released on Thursday, December 29. Purchases of Spanish properties sur ­

passed records, causing value to similarly soar to unprecedented rates.

International interest in Spanish property bounced back during the last year, following a two year slump due to the

pandemic. Now, property experts say interest from investors in new markets including the Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine, and the USA has fuelled an impressive recovery from the pandemic.

Purchases among certain markets have increased by more than 100 per cent since 2020.

As well as tapping into new markets, purchases from buyers in traditional foreign markets including Germans, British, and French people have remained steady throughout the year.

Market research carried out by one property giant found that locations including the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands remained the most popular with expatriate property buyers.

Royal hot water

FELIPE JUAN FROILÁN DE MARICHALAR Y BORBON , the 24 ­ yearold nephew of Spain’s King Felipe VI has been implicated by the Local Police after a large fight broke out in a Madrid nightclub on November 25. According to a Spanish online news site, the National Police said that they are investigating a case related to the alleged involvement of Froilán, in a brawl that included 30 people, with some carrying knives. Police officials said that the fight start­

ed after a vehicle was damaged, and upon reaching the scene, officers discovered bloodstains on the ground along with a broken car side view mirror.

Spanish authorities now state that the King’s nephew could face a prison sentence from three months to a year, if convicted. But the charges against him could be suspended due to the law in Spain, where sentences under two years are usually suspended for first ­ time offenders.

Operation Munich success

SPAIN’S Guardia Civil has made multiple arrests for crimes related to ammunition trafficking and illegal possession of weapons, as reported on Tuesday, December 27.

As part of Operation Munich, which was launched in October 2020, when arms trafficking specialists from the Information Headquarters (UCE ­ 3) of the Guardia

Civil, in another separate operation, arrested one of the main ammunition traffickers in Spain’s capital Madrid.

“This person had sold more than 36,000 metallic cartridges throughout Spain via the Internet,” the report read.

One of the buyers, a resident of the province of Pontevedra, a city in northwest Spain, bought

some ammunition from the dealer and it was the evidence seized from this person by the Information Group of the Guardia Civil in Pontevedra that led officers to the multiple traffickers throughout Spain.

In total, officers seized 6,760 metal cartridges of various calibres, 21 firearms, 8.6 kilos of gunpowder, 26 mortar shells and silencers.

Of course, you can review your financial planning any time to ensure it is on the right path, but the New Year is the perfect prompt to do so.

One key reason is to ensure it is up to date. Establish whether any tax rules or financial regulations have changed and consider if developments in your personal circumstances mean you should adjust previous arrangements.

But an effective review of your financial planning, to ensure it is suitable for your life in Spain and future plans, needs to go beyond that.

Many people only consider segments of their finances at a time. They may have bought shares in companies or funds they like years ago. They may speak to a tax accountant about Spanish taxation, then to a lawyer about wills. At some point they look at their pensions.

For truly effective financial planning, however, you need to consider all these various aspects together. For example, how you hold your investments can make a difference to your Spanish tax liabilities. Estate planning in

Strategic financial planning for the New Year

was, you pretty much need to start afresh in Spain. What was tax efficient in the UK is unlikely to be tax efficient here. Explore the compliant arrangements available in Spain to establish what would work for your situation and how much tax you can save.

Estate planning

UK nationals can use the EU succession regulation to distribute their estate under the appropriate UK law, but research this first to confirm if it’s the right solution for you.

Financial structuring for life in Spain

By Mathieu Edwards, Partner, Blevins Franks

on what you can achieve.

Spanish residency and taxation

The fact that you are resident in Spain, rather than the UK, has a significant impact on your financial and tax planning.

The way you own assets can impact on how you can distribute them on death and how much tax your beneficiaries pay, so take this into consideration early on. The Spanish succession tax rules differ greatly from the UK’s and you need to understand these to be able to plan around them.

Spanish succession law establishes forced heirship rules and protects children over your spouse, which can have unwel -

Perhaps the key rule for financial planning is that it must be specifically structured around your personal circumstances –your lifestyle today and plans for the future, family situation, income requirements, objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance.

If you don’t already have a strategic financial plan in place for Spain, you need to take a completely fresh look at your investments and consider if they remain suitable for you today. Are they too risky? Do you have adequate diversification? Could

At the same time, consider your tax liabilities on investment income and gains, as well as wealth tax, and whether you could use tax-efficient arrangements to hold your investments as resident of Spain. And how will these savings be passed to your heirs? What inheritance taxes will they pay? Can the funds be passed on directly or through a lengthy probate process?

Every family is different. Your strategic financial planning must be carefully designed for you. All the various aspects should work cohesively together to create an overall wealth management plan that provides long-term financial security for yourself and achieves your wishes for your heirs. For peace of mind take specialist advice.

All advice received from any Blevins Franks firm is personalised and provided in writing. This document/article, however, should not be construed as providing any personalised taxation and/or investment advice.

You can find other financial advisory articles by visiting our website

Cryptic bank balances

SPAI N’S T reasury has delayed the implementation of legislation requiring taxpayers to declare all cryptocurrency information. The decision was announced on Friday, December 30 and means virtual currencies will not be treated the

same as traditional currency until at least 2024.

As well as technological difficulties, the reasons for the 11th hour decision include a disagreement between the national tax agency and the State Council over the format

Controlling Covid

TRAVEL restrictions due to Coronavirus might be a thing of the past for most countries by now, but a recent outbreak of the virus in China is causing countries to rethink their entry requirements. After announcing the new restrictions on Thursday, December 29, Spain’s Department for Health confirmed that inbound travellers from China will now be required to present a negative test for Covid-19, or a vaccination certificate once more. Despite originally waiting for the EU to take action, Spain is the second country in the EU, after Italy to individually take measures to prevent the largescale return of the virus. The news comes almost three years to the day that China first declared the virus outbreak.

of declarations. Spain’s tax agency is in favour of collating as much data as possible from taxpayers, whereas the State Council is concerned about potential data protection issues. The tax codes that are under review and set to be amended from 2024 include 172, 173 and 721, which could change to require taxpayers to declare earnings in cryptocurrencies abroad and domestically.

Currently, data is only required on cryptocurrencies when it is used as a currency for domestic transactions. Taxpayers also do not currently have to declare the purchase of cryptocurrency. However, more stringent regulations apply to those whose assets are worth more than €2 million.

DIGITAL CURRENCY: Users don’t yet need to declare all of their crypto assets.

Photo credit: Chinnapong / shutterstock.com

Prices falling

THE reduction in VAT on foods introduced by the government took effect from January 1, but will only be lowered from Monday, January 2 as stores across the country reopen.

The reduction approved by Royal Decree sees VAT on legumes, potatoes and tuber crops, milk, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruits, cereals, bread and breadmaking flour abolished.

Until now these all attracted VAT at 4 per cent, but will now remain VAT free for the next six months or until core inflation falls below 5.5 per cent. Currently, the CPI is at 6.9 per cent.

VAT on olive oil and pasta also falls from January 2, going from 10 to 5 per cent whilst VAT on all other foodstuffs remains unchanged.

According to a national news channel, the average shopping basket is 13 per

cent more expensive than this time last year costing the average family of four around €315 extra.

The reductions in VAT, although small, do go some way to reduce the effect of the enormous increases seen on products like olive oil (25 per cent), eggs (27 per cent), milk (30 per cent) and cereals (37 per cent).

The government hopes that the broad range of reductions will have a greater impact than the big in ­

crease in the cost of individual products.

The food industry will, however, be required to absorb the new tax on plastic, which it had asked the government to delay for one year. The new tax rate of €0.45 per kilogram will raise around €690 million according to industry sources. They believe this cost will counter some of the reductions in VAT on foods as it will inevitably push up prices.

SHOPPING BASKET: Averaging 13% more than last year.

Image Davizro Photography

Budding artist

IT’S their first Christmas as the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince William and Kate celebrated by sharing a winter scene painted by Prince George. The Royals shared George’s impressive painting of a festive stag on Sunday, December 25, to wish the world a ‘Happy Christmas’. Prince George’s sweet painting depicts a stag surrounded by a snowy scene, with two robins perched on the antlers. The nine­year­old appears to be a burgeoning artist, and Royal fans took to Instagram to praise his talent, calling him a ‘budding little artist’.

Some also remarked that he takes after his mother, Kate Middleton who is known for her passion for art. The Royal children have shown their festive spirit all month long, delighting viewers with their heart­warming reactions at their mother’s Christmas Eve carol service and tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Election defeat fears

RIGHT-WING Politician

Nigel Farage, fearing another successive defeat, has said that he won’t run for parliament in the next elections.

The 58 ­ year ­ old former leader of UKIP, the Brexit Party and the UK Party is said to be fearful of another election defeat. Farage tried unsuccessfully between 1994 and 2015 to become an MP for South Thanet in Kent and a number of other areas in the south of England, before opting for a role

as an MEP in Brussels.

When asked whether he would be returning to frontline politics, Farage said: “It is not top of my bucket list.

“I am quite happy with life as it is.”

Analysts believe that Farage’s best days as a politician are over and that he is right to be fearful of an eighth successive defeat. Although unelectable, they do believe that he retains influence in the country and will be at his strongest outside of parliament.

Star’s Christmas donations

FIVE years on from the Manchester Arena attack which left 22 people dead, Ariana Grande is still making an annual Christmas gift donation to children’s hospitals in Manchester.

According to a national news outlet on Wednesday, December 28 the ‘One last time’ singer has formed a special bond with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity which delivers the gifts she donates.

According to the charity, this year’s gifts went to babies, children and teenagers in paediatric wards at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Trafford Hospitals, Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.

JOHN BIRD, famous for his work on ‘Bremner, Bird and Fortune’ has died at the age of 86. Rory Bremner, his friend and comedy partner, who described him as one of our great satirists, confirmed this on Wednesday, December 28.

Bremner in a tweet remembering Bird said, “It’s an

Paying tributes

irony that one of our greatest satirists, so brilliant at portraying ministers, civil servants or high­ranking officials who exuded self­satisfaction, was himself so modest and self­effacing.

Meanwhile other celebri­

ties including comedian Angela Barnes and actor Tony Gardner, also remembered Bird in their tweets.

Barnes wrote “Ahh RIP John Bird, you were wonderful in Bremner Bird and Fortune, and Absolute Power.”

Tanya Hamid, Interim Director of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity said: “It’s so wonderful that Ariana has once again been so thoughtful and made this special donation to our family of hospitals.

Grande, who has been awarded honorary citizen status in Manchester, sends around 1,000 presents every year to those youngsters in the city who have to spend Christmas in hospital.

Nigel Farage tried unsuccessfully between 1994 and 2015.

The star has a special bond with the Manchester Children’s Hospitals .

THE NON-RESIDENTS INCOME TAX

AS we do every end of the year, we wish to remind readers who are Non ­ Tax Residents in Spain and maybe they are in Spain just for holidays, that they are still obliged to pay In ­

come Taxes in Spain for Non­ Tax Residents, even if they do not have any income in Spain, just for the fact of owning a property here.

Wealth Tax . If you are

non ­ tax resident in Spain, or even if you live in Spain but are not registered with the taxman as a tax resident, or you do not submit taxes as tax residents, you could be legally considered as Non­Tax Resident, as no notice has been given to the Tax Authority.

Non­Tax Residents could be liable to pay Wealth Tax, but only if the value of their assets in Spain (after deducting debts, ie: pending capital of the mortgage, etc.) is above €600,000.

Income Tax . If you are Non ­ Tax Resident in Spain (or you are not legally tax resident in Spain), you will need to pay tax for income in Spain (Income Tax for Non Residents, IRNR): ie: rents from a letting, interest on bank accounts, etc.

If you do not have any income but you own a property or a share on a property, your tax bill will be based on a calculation as per the Cadastral Value (value that appears on your Spanish Local Rates receipt from the town hall, the SUMA office or the equivalent).

Even now it is quite common for people who are

Non ­ Fiscal Residents in Spain (or not legally Tax Residents in Spain) to simply not pay this tax; usually due to ignorance or neglect, and especially when they have no income in Spain and only own a house.

Please notice that if you let your property in Spain, you have obligation to submit the taxes every three

Carlos Baos (Lawyer) - White&Baos

months and not only once a year.

If you are not sure if you are legally or officially tax resident or non ­ tax resident, or if you want to know what the most convenient course of action for you is, we can assist you and study your personal situation and circumstances.

If you are non ­ tax resident, do not forget to meet your tax obligation so that you avoid a possible tax inspection, penalties, etc. Contact us and check our website www.white ­ baos. com for more information, and we will help you.

The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues.

Tel: +34 966 426 185 info@white-baos.com White & Baos 2022

All Rights Reserved.

Bus lane chaos

NOTTINGHAM City Council has issued more than 39,000 fines to drivers inadvertently using a bus lane, raking in more than £1 million in fines.

According to a national newspaper on Saturday, December 31 many have managed to appeal their fines after a judge found the signage to be inadequate. But a Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “We have met all legal requirements for signage and gone above and beyond these, previously adding additional advisory signage since the

changes were first made to provide motorists with further warning and diversions towards the Southern Relief Route.

“We keep this under constant review and have made changes following feedback from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which oversees PCN appeals, and we’d happily listen to any further suggestions from the public.

But drivers in the city aren’t satisfied saying that the signage is inadequate and difficult to see, with more than 2,000 successfully arguing that to be the case.

Unacceptable queues

PATIENTS in the UK are being forced to wait in huge queues for their turn outside emergency care, as one person reportedly spent over 99 hours last week to get a bed at a hospital, at the Great Western Hospital in England.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK is facing a major crisis, as a record number of cases due to flu, Covid, and Strep A, has resulted in thousands of people waiting outside emergency care.

According to Dr Adrian Boyle, Chief Royal College of

Emergency Medicine, quoted by a national newspaper, this winter has been the worst season on record, with regards to the amount of time each patient has to wait, before getting any medical attention at Accident and Emergency (A&E). Due to this delay, hundreds of people are dying as a result, he explains.

“We think between 300 to 500 people are dying as a consequence of delays and problems with urgent and emergency care each week. We need to get a grip of this,” said Boyle.

Dumping EU Law

RISHI SUNAK has pledged to rid the UK of all EU laws within 100 days, but sources are now suggesting that it could take up to three years to do so.

Government sources speaking to a national news outlet on Tuesday, January 3 have said that the delay is unavoidable given the scale of the operation. Ministers will need to decide which of the more than 4,000 pieces of legislation are to be kept and which will be ditched.

Those that aren’t retained will need to be

rewritten and will most likely need to go through parliament for approval, prompting some departments to ask for the deadline to be extended until 2026.

The bill to approve the wholesale dumping of EU legislation, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) is expected to face fierce opposition when it reaches the House of Lords in February with any delay being further damaging for Rishi Sunak who had vowed to get rid of the laws within 100 days.

Photo by SeventyFourShutterstock.com

Over 500 die every week in UK due to emergency care delays.

Unacceptable behaviour

A POLICE chief inspector in Wales has been sentenced to 14 months in jail after he used the police network to look up confidential details to pass on to his drug­dealing girlfriend, Kelly Roberts.

Chief Inspector Joseph Jones, 48, from Swansea, was sentenced after a court heard that he had misused the police computer system to find the private details of a couple

renting from the woman he was having an affair with and with whom she was now in a dispute with.

Hi was caught later after Roberts, with whom he was no longer involved, became involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

Jones accused those investigating him as being motivated by “an underlying unexplained grievance’” against him, deny­

ing that that he had secured unauthorised access to computer material and that he had lied to cover his tracks.

Found guilty of gross misconduct he has been dismissed without notice. Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said: “It is entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves.”

Book flop for Matt

FORMER UK health secretary Matt Hancock’s book titled ‘Pandemic Diaries: The Inside Story of Britain’s Battle Against Covid’ was ranked 191 on the Neilson book chart but was removed from the top 1,000 following declining sales.

Matt Hancock’s book released just before Christmas, has witnessed a sharp decline in sales. According to a national news outlet, his book titled Pandemic Diaries: The Inside Story of Britain’s Battle Against Covid was launched on December 6 and claims that the ‘tragic handling of care

home residents was someone else’s fault’. Hancock additionally claimed in the book that Public Health England and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, who were responsible for the test and trace system, were at fault for the delayed restrictions.

The report said that his book had initially entered the Neilson book charts at number 191. But in a few days, the sales drastically dropped, due to which, his book was not even included in the top 1,000.

Emergency averted

BRITISH AIRWAYS flight BA348 was forced into making an emergency landing at London Heathrow Airport on, Thursday, December 29.

The aircraft full of passengers had taken off not long before, destined for the city of Nice in the south of France.

According to initial reports, crew members reported smelling fumes

which led to the pilot making the decision to turn around and head back to London. The plane landed safely and was delayed on the runway with passengers waiting for a replacement.

“The aircraft landed normally after returning to Heathrow following reports of a technical issue. The safety of our cus -

tomers and crew is always our priority,” said a spokesperson for BA.

The BA spokesperson confirmed that emergency crews were on standby on the tarmac: “The incident has now been stood down,” as reported by a national news outlet. Passengers took to Twitter to report that pilots had apparently been wearing oxygen masks.

UNACCEPTABLE: Police officers should be trusted to the ends of the earth.

Fashion icon tributes

THE fashion icon Dame Vivienne Westwood has died at the age of 81 surrounded by her family in Clapham, London. A post on her official Twitter page announced her

passing on Thursday, December 29 after a short illness.

The British fashion designer is well ­ known for her fashion designs that helped to promote the punk move­

ment together with her partner Malcolm McLaren, owner of the SEX boutique. Involved directly with the punk movement she was closely associated with the

Illegal border official

UK Border Force arrested an official working in their department after discovering that he was an illegal immigrant, as reported on Thursday, December 29.

According to a statement by the UK Home Office, the official, who is believed to be in his late 30s, was suspended after the revelations about his illegal immigration status came to light.

It is reported that the former border official came to the UK as a teenager, from the Balkans over 20 years ago. Upon arriving at the UK immigration, it is claimed that he lied about the country of his origin, in order to ensure that he could live in the country.

A statement by the UK Home Office spokesperson said, “We expect the highest standards of our staff,” adding, “As soon as we are made aware of allegations of wrongdoing, they are rigorously investigated, and we do not hesitate in taking decisive action.”

iconic Sex Pistols.

Always happy to push boundaries, Westwood was ultimately made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire after adding many industry awards to her name including the British Fashion Award, the Royal Designer for Industry in 2001 and the European Cultural Award in 2019.

The fashion industry has come out to express their sorrow and pay tribute, as have numerous models and stars, many of whom have worn her outfits.

Shutterstock.com/Featureflash

Photo Agency

Dame Vivienne Westwood: An icon and activist will be sadly missed.

Incredible achievement

A 53-YEAR-OLD man from England successfully completed his 365th marathon in a year on New Year’s Eve, raising over £1 million (€1.12 million) for charity. Gary McKee from Cleator Moor in Cumbria ran a total of 9,563 miles in a year, which helped him raise more money than he was earlier targetting for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.

The father of three, McKee works as a group leader at a nuclear site in Sellafield, and often ran 26.2 miles (42.1 kilometres) every day in the morning, before starting his shift. Last year, he went through over 22 pairs of trainers, completing his daily marathons, regardless of rain, snow, or sunshine.

Aside from this, McKee has climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked through New Zealand and completed the Three Peaks Challenge in less than 24 hours. He has previously run over 100 marathons in 100 days and 110 in 110 days.

More financial aid

THE UK government has announced that it will be making cash handouts for the poorest families from the spring as part of its efforts to help with the costof­living crisis.

Announcing the support on Tuesday, January 3 the government said that payments of £900 will be made directly into the bank accounts of meanstested claimants. This would they said include those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits.

It is understood that the payment will be made over

three months with more assistance possible later in the year. Those that are

registered disabled will also receive an additional payment of £150. Pension­

ers will also continue to receive the £300 Winter Fuel Payment.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has also said that the government is aware of the difficult times being faced by many families and: “That’s why we’re putting a further £900 into the pockets of over eight million low ­ income households next year.

The announcement that the UK is to give cash handouts to the poorest to help with cost­of­living follows similar action taken elsewhere, including in Spain.

GOVERNMENT EFFORTS: To help the cost of living crisis.

Image SB Arts Media / Shutterstock.com

Putin’s passport offer

RUSSIAN President

Vladimir Putin has approved the process by which Ukrainians in occupied territories can claim a passport, effectively renouncing their Ukrainian citizenship.

Ukrainian citizen able to apply for the change.

Those that do apply will have to provide proof of citizenship from the DPR, LPR or Ukraine along with proof of residence. Those documents then need to be submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia or its territorial body. The ministry told Kommersant that new passport applications will be processed in less than 10 days.

A bill before the Duma will see Ukrainians formally renounce their citizenship on the day the application for a Russian passport is submitted.

Russia is moving ahead with its plans to make the annexed areas permanent regions of the country, allowing Ukrainians in ‘annexed territories’ to apply for Russian citizenship.

Chic snobbery

ITALY’S Culture Minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, is being massively slammed on social media for criticising the use of foreign words in Italian and then inadvertently using foreign words when doing so.

The minister said that using foreign words in the Italian language is ‘radical chic snobbery’ but as one Twitter

user said “the irony seems to have been lost on him.”

On Thursday, December 29, the right­wing politician and journalist said: “I believe that a certain abuse of English­speaking terms is a part of a certain snobbery, very radical chic, that comes from the lack of awareness of the global value of Italian culture.”

In Italian, Sangiuliano used the expression: ‘snobismo, molto radical chic’. Chic, of course, is a French word. Though it can be used in Italian, but a local translation would be ‘elegante’ or even ‘raffinato’. Radical is an English word used in Italian as ‘radicale’ and snobismo is derived from the English word ‘snob’.

Kebab v sausages

Image:stockcreations/Shutterstock.com

ACCORDING to a YouGov DPA survey pitting the currywurst sausage and doner ke bab against each other, Germans voted for the kebab.

When given the choice of the two, 45 per cent of adults picked the doner kebab and 37 per cent chose

the currywurst sausage. Some 15 per cent of voters said they did not like either.

The sausage sprinkled with Indian spices and drowned in spicy ketchup,

which first made its appearance in Berlin after the Second World War, is more popular with older Germans, especially men.

Fans of the Berlin version of the Middle Eastern dish, the doner kebab made famous by Turkish immigrants in the 70s, tend to skew the younger generation, in particular females.

on Monday, December 26 also provides for the instant recognition of

Russian passport. Image Iv-olga Shutterstock.com

SKIERS may be met with disappointment as a lack of snow in the Pyrenees and other French ski slopes means some ski stations will remain shut.

The mild winter season has greatly disrupted the plans for ski stations in the French Alps and the Pyrenees this year, due to not enough snow. According to a report by a French news outlet on Tuesday, December

27, this has resulted in over half of the ski slopes across France remaining shut, at a time of the peak holiday season.

The Southern Alps which have over 75 per cent of the

slopes opened along with the Northern Alps, have been the least affected. However, the situation is particularly worrying in the Pyrenees, with only 25 per cent of the slopes open so

Let it snow Hair brain idea

HAIRDRESSERS across Belgium are sweeping up and bagging hair clipped from their customers, and then handing it over to the Hair Recycle Project which is part of the non­governmental, non ­ profit organisation Dung Dung. The organisation then recycles the hair to protect the environment.

The Hair Recycle project feeds locks and tresses into a machine that turns them into matted squares that can be used to absorb oil and other hydrocarbons polluting the environment, or made into biocomposite bags.

Project co­founder Patrick Janssen, explained that one kilogramme (2.2 lbs) of hair can absorb seven to eight litres of oil and hydrocarbons, and the matted squares can be placed in drains to soak up pollution in water before it reaches a river.

“Our products are all the more ethical as they are manufactured locally, they are not imported from the

other side of the planet,” he told a news outlet. “They are made here to deal with local problems.”

far. Aside from this, the Vosges and the Jura also witnessed a lack of snow, as only 25 per cent of the slopes have been opened to date.

MILD WINTER: Lack of snow is keeping ski stations closed.

Five continents race

LOOKING for a challenge? On Thursday January 26, the Five Continents Race Costa Blanca, also known as the Costa Blanca Bike Race, is scheduled. This is a pretty gruelling event for track and trail enthusiasts where hard work is guaranteed.

One of its great hallmarks is the extremely hard climb to the Antenas del Albir, an epic ascent that always gath­

ers a large number of fans who encourage cyclists to climb ramps that are quite dizzying.

The Five Continents Race Costa Blanca is an extremely competitive event, and in which participants must have either an approved UCI Elite licence or a Master’s licence for competitive cycling.

However, for those who do not have any type of com­

petition licence, it is possible to participate in the modality of pairs, whether female, male or mixed. In the latter case, participants will not have the possibility of obtaining any type of UCI prize or cash.

For more information or to register head to the website: www.fivecontinentsrace.co m or email: info@fiveconti nentsrace.com.

Dickens unmasked

PIP UTTON really is extraordinary, known as the Edinburgh Fringe staple ­ much respected for his one­man shows about diverse characters from Einstein to Churchill.

Pip plays Dickens as he spent his final 12 years on speaking tours which astonished capacity audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. His private life was spent in the company of the beautiful young actress Ellen Tiernan, his beloved muse and confidant. This is happy and contented Dickens enjoying entertaining his friends.

In his inimitable style, Pip connects Dickens

with the audience, removes the mask of a legend and reveals the man you thought you knew.

Catch Pip at the Javea Players Studio Theatre (near Mercadona in the old town), Calle Cronista Figueras Pacheco 6, Javea, on January 27 and 28.

Doors open at 7.00pm for curtain up at 7.30pm.

There is parking on the streets around Mercadona or in El Clot.

For more information or to book tickets, head to the website: /javeaplayers.com/.

Magnum Productions present The Spanish Bee Gees

FOLLOWING the huge success of our recent Queen Forever show in Beniarbeig, the next Magnum Productions show is planned for Saturday January 21, again in the Teatre Auditorio in Beniarbeig, and this time features a fantastic tribute to the iconic Bee Gees, featuring a Spanish band ‘The Spanish Bee Gees’.

This promises to be another great show in a wonderful theatre.

Tickets are on sale and can be reserved by calling Peter on 618 017 201 or by emailing magnum.concerts@gmail.com. Seats are also available to purchase from our website at www.magnumconcerts. com.

We look forward to seeing you once again for a great show and as always, profits go to local charities.

Peter

Johnson

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Teatre-Auditori/@38.8237461,0.0057021,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0xd61e3e2a9dbf237:0x ebf0b1d08ecd2205!8m2!3d38.8238307!4d-0.00357

Sleeping Beauty

SLEEPING BEAUTY is a breathtaking ballet set to shine at Teatro Principal in Alicante on Thursday, January 19. Expect to be bewitched with three grandiose palace parties: the christening, 16th birthday and wedding of Princess Aurora, plus the beautiful dream act.

The International Classical Ballet is the company founded by the former soloist of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Moldova, Andrey Sharaev in 2012.

The Teatro Principal is located on Plaza Chapi, s/n­03001, Alicante.

Tickets are available from the ticket office from midday until 2.00pm then from 5.00pm until 9.00pm.

For more information or to buy tickets online or by phone head to the website: www.teatroprincipaldealicante.com, email: informacion@ teatroprincipaldealicante.com or call (+34) 965 202 380.

Arenal Blues Festival

THE Department of Culture of Javea Town Hall continues to expand its cultural programming and does so with the creation of a new festival. The Arenal Blues Festival will take place from March 17 until 19, coinciding with San Jose weekend celebrations, on the Paseo del Tenis David Ferrer of the Arenal Beach.

The Festival will take place at different points along the Paseo del Arenal, with the concerts being on Friday, March 17, in the afternoon in front of the Octopus, on Sat­

urday, March 18, the performances will be during the afternoon and early evening in the La Fontana area, and on

Sunday, March 19, a midday performance at the southernmost end of the promenade will close the festival.

Ghost the Musical

ALICANTE is hosting the tear­jerking musical, Ghost. Based on the 1990 Oscar­winning romantic drama starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost the Musical chronicles the relationship between Sam and Molly both in life and after his death in a robbery. Sam is caught between the two worlds to protect his girl from the same threat that took his life.

Ghost the Musical is running from February 9 until February 19 at the Teatro Principal, Plaza Chapí, s/n­03001, Alicante.

The theatre’s box office is open from midday until 2.00pm and then from 5.00pm until 9.00pm. For more information head to the website: www.teatroprincipaldealicante.com, email: informacion@teatroprincipaldeali cante.com or call (+34) 965 203 100.

NEW FESTIVAL: Will take place along the Paseo del Arenal.

Image: Javea City Council

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Fewer crimes

QUITE often it’s not Santa Claus who arrives at the homes of families in Copenhagen on Christmas Eve, but enterprising burglars looking to liberate presents as owners are out visiting family, although this year, police figures reveal an all time low of just 47 reported break-ins.

THE NETHERLANDS

Keep it local

WORRIED by the number of overseas students (mainly from the EU) being actively recruited by Dutch Universities, which cause housing problems across the country and lecture hall overcrowding, Education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf has written telling them to concentrate on admitting Dutch students.

BELGIUM

Bum note

PLANS to affix a 725 kilo, seven-metre-long harmonica to the front of the new Toots Thielemans metro station in the Zuidlaan suburb of Brussels to celebrate what would have been the musician’s 100th birthday have been blocked due to health and safety fears.

GERMANY

Going ape

CONSIDERED to be gentler than chimpanzees, the bonobo apes are as curious as their cousins and a zoo in Stuttgart makes sure that they receive plenty of Christmas presents as they love to unwrap boxes and study the wrapping paper before eating their treats.

FRANCE

Racist vandals

A STATUE of Victor Hugo in Besançon created by Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow had its face painted white after rants by right-wing extremists on social media declared that its face appeared to be too much like an African and two young men have been arrested.

NORWAY

Unique find

ALTHOUGH Viking artifacts have been found in Oslo over the years, for the first time a complete Viking grave has been discovered by builders constructing a new house on a small hill overlooking the Holmendammen lake just north of the city centre.

FINLAND

Holy smoke

WORSHIPPERS at a wooden chapel in the town of Rautjärvi were lucky to escape unharmed as it was burned down Christmas Day and police believe that an elderly man who later set fire to his own property and died was the probable arsonist.

IRELAND

Dusk busk

ANOTHER survivor of the pandemic is the annual Christmas Eve busking event in Dublin’s Grafton Street which raises funds for the Simon community. Quiet for the past two years, in the past it has attracted stars such as Bono and Sinéad O'Connor who played unannounced.

ITALY

Wild boar

ANIMAL rights activists are not happy with a new proposal to be debated in the Italian Parliament which would allow for the culling of wild boar. It is estimated that there are now more than two million and increasing numbers cause health and road safety problems in cities.

PORTUGAL

More routes

EASYJET has announced that this coming summer, it will add 15 new routes from Lisbon airport which will include Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca and Menorca as well as increasing capacity to a number of destinations thus adding more than one million extra seats.

UKRAINE

McChristmas

ON December 23, 2020, burger chain McDonalds opened in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, but the restaurant was damaged following the Russian invasion. Now just in time for this Christmas, the outlet has reopened with its own generator and joins 63 other McDonalds still serving.

SWEDEN

Earworm

A SWEDISH couple, Tomas and Hannah Mazzetti hate the Wham song Last Christmas so much that they want to raise enough money to buy the rights so that they can then take it off air forever, but they are about €15 million short of the likely price.

BUSINESS EXTRA

A Handbag!

WITH stock markets still suffering following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and central banks attempting to tackle inflation, some investors are looking for other areas to put their money and currently high quality, expensive handbags with limited production runs are considered a good longterm bet.

Pork scratching

BRITISH pigs in blankets may have ended up in South Korean festive celebrations after the UK government secured the removal of rules banning the export of certain pork products such as bacon and sausages to that country opening an estimated £1 million market opportunity.

Petrol war

WITH the removal of the 20 cents per litre government fuel discount for private vehicle owners, Spain’s two largest suppliers of diesel and petrol Repsol and Cepsa have confirmed that they will both maintain their additional discounts at least for the first quarter of 2023.

Foreign workers

ALERT to the fact there were simply insufficient people available or prepared to work in flower and vegetable picking in the UK in 2022, the government has increased the number of seasonal workers visas for 2023 by 15,000 to 45,000, in time for the daffodil season.

Best customer

SPAIN has emerged as Nigeria’s largest export destination with total exports valued at N873.6 billion (€1.84 billion) according to a report from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics with the bulk being made up of oil and liquid gas although leather from goats came third.

Tackling rising prices

ON Tuesday December 27, the Spanish government agreed a package of measures designed to keep inflation low and to help households cope with rising prices.

The measures are:

• A reduction in the rate of VAT

The VAT rate on all items that attract the current rate of 4 per cent will be reduced to zero, and a basket of basic items like pasta and olive oil will see the VAT rate fall from 10 to 5 per cent.

• Fuel discount

The fuel discount scheme has been extended for a further six months, however, it is to be discontinued for private individuals (excepting Repsol and Cepsa). Only professionals in transport, agriculture and fisheries will continue to benefit from the scheme.

• Property rental

The cap that prevents rental rates from being increased by more than 2 per cent annually

will remain in place and will be reviewed annually in line with the inflation rate. Any contract that expires between now and July will have the rental price frozen, that is no increase in the rental.

• Public transport

The free transport scheme currently in place will be extended for a further 12 months.

• Direct financial support

Households with an income of less than €27,000 could be eligible for a monthly cheque of €200,

essentially anyone who does not meet the Minimum Vital Income level or who is a Spanish pensioner.

That measure is expected to cost the government in excess of €1.3 billion, with more than 5.5 million Spaniards thought to be eligible for direct assistance.

More details will follow once the legislation is published, particularly in regard to the foods that will benefit from a VAT reduction.

WASPI women wait

SINCE the pension age for women in the UK was raised from 60 with effect from 2011 a special group WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) was formed in 2015 to lobby parliament.

According to their estimates, more than 212,000 affected women died since they were formed, saving the UK government some £3.18 billion.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is in the process of conducting a very long­term review of the situation and having decided that the Department of Works and Pension had failed to communicate State Pension age changes to the women affected in July of this year, they have now completed stage 2 of the investigation.

For reasons of their

own, they are not however publishing their report until the entire investigation is complete and at a recent meeting the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs committee Amanda Amroliwala (Chief Executive Officer at the PHSO) told WASPI that this will be ‘within the first

quarter’ of 2023.

WASPI hope and believe that the PHSO will have the evidence needed to prove that there was maladministration which has caused injustice for up to 3.8 million women and they are currently seeking legal advice on what their next steps should be depending on the

outcome of the review.

In addition, they have appointed a new PR and Consultancy agency to obtain more coverage for their campaign and during the latter part of the year, the story was picked up by several national newspapers as well as Sky News and the BBC.

Sellers market

UNLIKE the UK where the sale of houses appears to be in the doldrums and the government are still trying to prop up the market, Spain seems to be heading in the opposite direction.

For years, the volume of unsold (and often unfinished) property flooded the market due to the 2008 financial crisis, but finally there are plenty of buyers around.

According to the latest Tinsa IMIE Local Markets statistics published on December 30, the value of new and used housing in Spain rose 2.5 per cent between the third and fourth quarters, placing the year­on­year increase in the last quarter of the year at 8.8 per cent, around 2 per cent above inflation.

On track

SPAIN is to spend €24.2 billion between now and 2026 in order to boost the strength of its railway system both nationally and by increasing the number of international routing agreements across Europe. Part of the strategy is to ensure that passengers receive a better and safer experience when using the railway system which will be modernised as much as possible and where feasible expanded with some new lines.

The other intent is to encourage greater passenger and freight usage as part of its ongoing environmental strategy which looks to reduce the amount of traffic on the roads.

SPAIN’S Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), allocated €325 million in 2022 to promote biomedical and health R&D&I.

Of the total investment, the ISCIII granted €248 million through the Strategic Action in Health (AES) 2022, the main annual tool to finance biomedical and health research in Spain. This investment represents 5 per cent more than the previous year.

The balance of €77 million was utilised by way of subsidies corresponding to past annual payments for biomedical and health R+D+I in the country.

NEW MEASURES: Support announced by Spanish Council of Ministers.

WASPI WOMEN: Outside the Houses of Parliament.

is the amount that British company Howden is believed to have paid to take over Banca March’s insurance business in Spain.

3I Group 1.337,50 1.345,50 1.331,50 139,82K

Abrdn 189,55 190,90 188,70 677,32K

Admiral Group 2.136,0 2.148,0 2.128,0 58,05K

Anglo American 3.246,5 3.261,5 3.235,0 214,34K

Antofagasta 1.557,00 1.561,00 1.545,00 83,15K

Ashtead Group 4.753,0 4.800,0 4.751,0 44,28K

Associated British Foods 1.578,5 1.597,5 1.576,5 100,45K

AstraZeneca 11.254,0 11.326,0 11.250,0 87,13K

Auto Trader Group Plc 518,80 525,00 518,80 273,73K

Aveva 3.217,0 3.218,0 3.215,0 46,95K

Aviva 445,30 448,50 443,80 332,05K

B&M European Value Retail SA413,80 415,10 408,60 243,56K

BAE Systems 857,00 863,40 856,40 574,68K

Barclays 159,36 159,74 158,24 2,56M

Barratt Developments 399,30 411,80 398,80 431,24K

Berkeley 3.788,0 3.854,0 3.787,0 35,33K

BHP Group Ltd 2.571,50 2.582,50 2.554,00 63,58K

BP 477,75 480,30 477,06 606,19K

British American Tobacco 3.296,0 3.304,0 3.278,0 169,02K

British Land Company 397,60 400,30 396,60 147,04K

BT Group 113,25 116,00 113,10 1,30M

Bunzl 2.751,0 2.783,0 2.751,0 40,55K

Burberry Group 2.036,0 2.047,0 2.028,0 70,75K

Carnival 582,3 588,8 580,8 37,47K

Centrica 96,20 96,84 96,12 1,05M

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.966,5 1.971,5 1.923,5 83,61K

Compass 1.924,50 1.936,00 1.923,50 104,46K

CRH 3.302,5 3.313,0 3.281,5 53,05K

Croda Intl 6.640,0 6.694,0 6.648,0 2,08K

DCC 4.119,0 4.177,0 4.115,0 32,09K

Diageo 3.650,0 3.659,5 3.637,5 438,98K

DS Smith 321,32 322,00 319,70 396,64K

EasyJet 325,50 329,10 322,60 308,43K

Experian 2.834,0 2.860,0 2.831,0 70,00K

Ferguson 10.410,0 10.545,0 10.410,0 72,80K

Flutter Entertainment 11.260,0 11.445,0 11.240,0 132,75K

Fresnillo 899,00 899,00 875,98 16,19K

Glencore 557,00 559,50 556,10 4,51M

GSK plc 1.442,60 1.447,80 1.434,20 456,62K

Halma 1.988,5 2.020,0 1.988,5 81,36K

Hargreaves Lansdown 862,20 868,00 856,00 150,92K

Hikma Pharma 1.566,50 1.578,00 1.564,00 28,10K

HSBC 517,70 519,20 515,60 2,15M

IAG 124,50 125,72 124,10 2,29M

Imperial Brands 2.073,00 2.077,00 2.065,00 367,40K

Informa 622,00 623,20 618,00 291,18K

InterContinental 4.760,0 4.766,0 4.732,0 28,78K

Intermediate Capital 1.157,50 1.167,85 1.155,26 15,14K

Intertek 4.043,0 4.065,0 4.043,0 17,69K

ITV 75,40 76,03 74,87 267,99K

J Sainsbury 219,48 220,00 217,88 65,29K

Johnson Matthey 2.123,0 2.141,0 2.074,0 41,69K

Land Securities 627,40 634,00 626,60 128,04K

Legal & General 250,40 253,90 249,80 1,43M

Lloyds Banking 45,74 46,17 45,67 11,35M

London Stock Exchange 7.176,0 7.230,0 7.164,0 48,15K

Melrose Industries 134,10 134,45 132,85 2,22M

Mondi 1.413,00 1.423,50 1.413,00 70,58K

National Grid 1.002,00 1.008,50 996,60 506,01K

NatWest Group 266,50 267,80 265,90 879,45K

Next 5.824,0 5.848,0 5.726,0 54,95K

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

Ocado 621,80 638,40 620,80 154,50K

Persimmon 1.225,5 1.253,5 1.224,0 109,92K

Phoenix 611,31 616,20 610,60 127,51K

Prudential 1.137,50 1.149,00 1.132,50 572,93K

Reckitt Benckiser 5.759,4 5.762,0 5.714,0 98,44K

Relx 2.299,00 2.313,00 2.297,00 324,07K

Rentokil 511,80 521,00 511,80 255,78K

Rightmove 515,60 523,60 515,60 177,78K

Rio Tinto PLC 5.808,0 5.846,0 5.787,0 184,91K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 92,61 92,68 91,45 4,30M

Sage 745,40 752,80 744,80 114,74K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.102,50 1.107,00 1.094,50 2,65K

Schroders 438,9 450,2 438,9 368,06K

Scottish Mortgage 709,72 714,60 709,00 296,26K

Segro 767,60 778,80 767,20 236,33K

Severn Trent 2.668,0 2.702,0 2.667,0 35,93K

Shell 2.343,0 2.346,5 2.330,0 1,21M

Smith & Nephew 1.108,00 1.113,50 1.102,50 208,26K

Smiths Group 1.603,50 1.621,00 1.601,50 89,96K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 10.650,0 10.770,0 10.650,0 7,19K

SSE 1.709,97 1.721,50 1.709,50 152,41K

St. James’s Place 1.103,00 1.116,00 1.098,50 115,15K

Standard Chartered 627,00 629,60 624,80 360,51K

Taylor Wimpey 101,15 103,45 100,95 1,71M

Tesco 225,00 225,80 222,98 257,24K

Tui 134,25 135,15 131,75 852,90K

Unilever 4.191,5 4.201,0 4.174,5 172,46K

United Utilities 996,80 1.007,00 996,80 129,32K

Vodafone Group PLC 84,53 84,86 84,23 15,38M Whitbread 2.592,0 2.618,0 2.581,0 37,61K WPP 817,60 823,40 817,40 120,61K

3M 120,57 120,86 2,06M

American Express 147,32 147,62 144,40 1,76M

Amgen 263,16 264,88 262,14 1,45M

Apple 129,61 130,48 127,73 75,34M

Boeing 188,91 190,25 186,19 4,51M

Caterpillar 240,20 241,61 238,27 1,65M

Chevron 178,32 179,20 176,65 4,14M

Cisco 47,50 47,74 47,26 11,36M

Coca-Cola 63,95 64,15 63,70 7,16M

Dow 50,65 50,80 50,00 2,74M

Goldman Sachs 343,43 344,64 341,24 1,27M

Home Depot 320,41 321,83 317,59 1,55M

Honeywell 214,75 215,25 212,77 1,88M

IBM 141,06 142,26 140,45 2,32M

Intel 26,21 26,29 25,75 30,54M

J&J 177,56 178,30 177,07 2,82M

JPMorgan 133,22 133,27 132,31 6,53M

McDonald’s 265,93 267,81 264,88 1,39M

Merck&Co 110,82 111,70 110,75 4,46M

Microsoft 241,01 241,92 235,65 19,73M

Nike 117,35 118,07 115,80 4,56M

Procter&Gamble 152,59 153,24 152,14 3,80M

Salesforce Inc 132,54 132,95 129,50 5,76M

The Travelers 189,44 190,04 187,96 676,54K

UnitedHealth 529,88 533,68 528,86 1,38M

Verizon 39,26 39,53 38,81 17,31M

Visa A 208,06 208,53 205,50 3,68M

Walgreens Boots 37,47 37,97 37,36 5,24M

Walmart 142,15 143,02 141,75 3,04M

Walt Disney 87,18 88,24 84,97 12,96M

Most

628,159

Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. +11.23% 31,557

AppLovin Corporation +10.96% 2.601M

Symbotic Inc. +10.52% 157,934

Fluence Energy, Inc. +10.21% 1.525M

Most Declined

PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna Tbk -22.86% 296,078

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. -14.50% 6.09M

Federal National Mortgage Association -10.42% 32,035

PetroChina Company Limited -5.63% 138,900

Woori Financial Group Inc. -5.24% 58,353

Harbour Energy plc -4.53% 433,487

Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. -4.35% 22,588

MINISO Group Holding Limited -3.94% 529,044

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc -3.28% 894,663

POSCO Holdings Inc. -2.60% 201,582

Deutsche Lufthansa AG -2.60% 24,597

Currency outlook: Hawkish ECB turbocharges the euro, Pound rally undermined by dovish BoE

Euro

EUR/GBP: Up from £0.85 to £0.88

EUR/USD: Up from $1.04 to $1.06

The euro enjoyed strong support through December. Supported by positive data including an upwardly revised Eurozone GDP print and stronger-than-expected German industrial releases.

The bulk of the euro’s gains were linked to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) latest interest rate decision. The ECB hiked rates by 50bps and signalled that it will continue to tighten monetary policy at its current pace through the first part of 2023.

However it wasn’t all plain sailing for the euro, with concerns over a potential escalation of the war in Ukraine weighing on EUR sentiment throughout the month.

Looking ahead to the start of 2023, it’s likely the primary focus for EUR investors will be on the Eurozone’s latest GDP release. While a slump in the bloc will not surprise markets, the focus is on the size of the contraction.

A larger-than-expected slowdown could stoke concerns over the size of the recession facing the Eurozone and push the euro sharply lower.

Pound

BUSINESS

EXTRA

Dropping sales

NOVEMBER was a bad month for Spanish retail sales which fell 0.6 per cent compared to last November after rising 1 per cent in October according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Oil ban

FOLLOWING the decision by the European Union and G7 members to put a price cap on the purchase of Russian oil, Putin has issued a decree banning the sale of oil to those countries running from February 1 to June 30.

Inflation drops

ALTHOUGH core inflation in Spain stands at 6.9 per cent, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December which is a more immediate indicator of price rises is estimated by the National Statistics Office as 5.8 per cent, the lowest figure since November 2021.

GBP/EUR: Down from €1.16 to €1.13

GBP/USD: Up from at $1.19 to $1.20

The pound initially firmed in December as some above-forecast PMI releases bolstered hopes the UK may see a milder recession than previously feared.

However, Sterling then faced a major setback as the Bank of England (BoE) concluded its final interest rate decision of the year.

While the BoE also raised rates by 50bps, two members of the Monetary Policy Committee called for rates to be left unchanged. Stoking speculation the BoE could pause its tightening cycle in early 2023.

GBP exchange rates then trended broadly lower through the latter half of December amid concerns over the UK’s ‘winter of discontent’, with GBP investors fearing widespread industrial action would severely disrupt economic activity at the end of the year.

Turning to January, ongoing strikes could see the pound face an uphill battle. Although some positive data releases could still garner some support for Sterling.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from at £0.83 to £0.82

USD/EUR: Down from €0.96 to €0.93

December confirmed the US dollar’s bullish

First time buyers

THE UK Mortgage Guarantee Scheme will be extended by a year, having already helped over 24,000 households get onto the property ladder.

Launched in April 2021, the scheme supports firsttime buyers, who make up 85 per cent of scheme transactions, buy a home with a 5 per cent deposit.

Under the scheme the government offers lenders the financial guarantees they need to provide mortgages that cover the other 95 per cent, subject to the usual affordability checks, on a house worth up to £600,000.

It was originally planned to close at the end of this year but will now be extended until the end of 2023 and will help to boost the flagging UK property market.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen MP said:

“For hard­working families facing today’s challeng­

ing economic conditions, it’s right that we continue to help them secure their first home or move into their dream house.

“Extending this scheme means thousands more have the chance to benefit, and supports the market as we navigate through these difficult times.”

To also support people to get onto the property ladder, the government has increased the level where first­time buyers start pay­

ing stamp duty from £300,000 to £425,000. Furthermore, first­time buyers can get relief on properties costing up to £625,000, as opposed to £500,000 previously.

Other government home ownership options available include Shared Ownership which gives first time buyers the option to buy a share of their home (between 25 per cent and 75per cent) and pay rent on the remaining share.

run was well and truly over, with USD exchange rates plummeting to multi-month lows.

The ‘greenback’ slumped through the first half of the month amid a prevailing risk-on mood and expectations for a dovish pivot from the Federal Reserve at its December policy meeting.

A larger-than-expected drop in US inflation further undermined Fed rate hike bets and sent the US dollar sharply lower in the middle of the month.

However, the Fed surprised markets by proving more hawkish than expected. With the US dollar rebounding from its worst levels as the Fed signalled interest rates will peak higher than previously forecast next year.

A cautious mood and stronger-than-expected GDP release then offered additional support to the US dollar in the run up to Christmas.

USD investors will be keeping a close eye on the latest US employment figures in January. A below forecast payrolls print could see the US dollar get off to a poor start in 2023.

Currencies Direct have helped over 325,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

EU sued

US energy giant ExxonMobil which markets fuel in Europe under the Esso and Mobil brands has announced that it is going to take legal action to try to make the EU cancel its proposed windfall tax on oil firms.

The EU hopes to raise around €140 billion by charging a new 33 per cent tax on major energy suppliers by way of a ‘crisis contribution’ from their increased 2022 profits caused in part by the hike in energy prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

ExxonMobil argues that Brussels is not only exceeding its legal authority, but could hurt the European economy in the long­term as it would have second thoughts about further investment in the EU.

Good advice

FORMER Spanish government minister Luis de Guindos and now vice­president of the European Central Bank (ECB) said at a meeting of the Spanish Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs’ Associations (CEAJE) that the ECB expected Spain to enter into a short­lived recession in the first quarter of 2023.

He also told those present that “My advice for all young entrepreneurs is to persevere, and to always do so with caution, despite the challenges. And I would encourage all young people to study, learn languages and get to grips with new technology so as to be prepared for the future and able to better manage situations of uncertainty or instability.

GUARANTEE SCHEME: The key to home ownership.

Credit: Hippopx CCO

Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca.

STERLING: Faced a major setback as the BoE concluded its final interest rate decision.

Peter Loveday

WITH their plastic bottles, food cartons and litter left laying everywhere in their wake, plus the output of untold thousands of vehicle exhausts as they idled in traffic jams, badly misled young protesters of 2022 have left a carbon footprint that will probably not be ‘offset’ until they reach their coming of age.

This present generation has to be the most spoiled, self­centered, misinformed bunch of youngsters the civilised world has ever produced.

They have air­conditioning in the classrooms, mobile phones and gismos, they ride in cars to school, they suck up junk food like hoovers and insist on the latest trendy outfits at all times. All of these luxury products, which they seem to think is their God given right, are manufactured or supplied by ginormous companies that pour billions of tons of carbon dioxide emission into the Earth’s atmosphere.

These children’s selfish attitudes and life styles cause far more damage to our environment than the previous generations they are so keen to accuse. The generations preceding them were mobile and ‘designer’ free and took bicycles or walked to their destinations.

Most had never experienced jet travel or air conditioning and opened windows when it was hot, instead of closing them. They received new shoes or clothes only when the previous attire needed replac­

Spoiled rotten

If we truly wonder who is responsible for these utterly disruptive attitudes and protests, it’s all pretty obvious.

ing, ate home­made sandwiches instead of Whoppers and read books.

However, in these modern day youngsters’ defence, most have of course been brainwashed and misled by the ‘usual suspects’! Many of the culprits are those who laughably profess to be ‘schoolteachers’.

Stringy haired trendies, who actually started the rot when the first long haired leftie ‘free thinker’ plonked his behind on his desk and told the class to call him John! The same leftie brigade who welcome drag acts into the classrooms to ‘enlighten’ four­year­olds and abolish winning and losing.

A whole generation of youngsters who not only have no respect for their elders but truly do believe they are actually superior. Ever increasing numbers of them would rather walk into the class with a knife than a ruler.

The main contributors are the third generation of children who have been raised by the children of another generation whose own parents suffered abominably when their very existence was threatened by the death and destruction of a world war. Rather than allow their offsprings to relive the horrors and deprivations their ancestors experienced themselves they have often quite understandably spoiled their descendants rotten ­ and all this public disruption and rampant disorder is the unfortunate result. The lefties absolutely love it. It could actually win them the next election.

Happy New Year everyone. Keep the faith.

Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS OVERLOAD OUR VIEW

ALTHOUGH most people enjoy Christmas, even the most tinsel­hardened Britons in Spain may be forced to admit that marking both December 25 and January 6 ­ and every holiday in between ­ is perhaps becoming a little too much.

The imposition of British traditions on Spanish culture now mean that what was previously a few days of festive celebration is now almost a fortnight extravaganza.

The Spanish may always have marked December 25 with a bank holiday, but in recent years they have also adopted the very British traditions of exchanging gifts and taking children to see Father Christmas, stretching the holiday period even further.

This assimilation of UK values into Spanish traditions do tell us two important ­ and rather lovely ­ things about the country we have chosen to call home however.

Firstly, that the Spanish really do love a fiesta. And secondly that they are quick to welcome the traditions of others with open arms.

For all the UK’s multiculturalism, festivities like Diwali aren’t widely adopted, yet over the past decade or so the Spanish have taken to a British Christmas like a turkey to gravy.

You can have too much of a good thing however and after the December hooha of ever­changing shop hours, bank holidays, overeating and overdrinking, it can be comforting to get back into the routine of work.

January is a time for reflecting on the past year’s achievements and failings as well as to plan ahead. And just as a change is as good as a rest, the familiar Monday to Friday routine can add the perfect backdrop for some reasoned contemplation on what’s ahead.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

OTHERS

By Clinica Britannia

Check out your DAO enzyme

SUFFER with bloating, constipation or headaches on a regular basis, then you should check on your DAO enzyme.

DAO Deficiency occurs when there is an alteration in the metabolism of food histamine, in other words, when for some reason there is a significant deficiency in the functional activity of the main enzyme in the metabolism of histamine.

The imbalance between ingested histamine and the histamine released from the histamine storage cells, leads to histamine accumulation in the plasma of the blood, triggering the occurrence of adverse effects on health.

In healthy people, histamine taken with food is degraded quickly by Diamine Oxidase (DAO) enzyme, but people with low functional DAO activity have the risk of suffering histamine intolerance.

Unlike food allergy, the occurrence of symptoms is not linked to the intake of specific food; not only can it be related to a wide variety of food with different

histamine contents, but symptoms can also occur even after the ingestion of products with low histamine levels.

Contact your GP for further investigations if you are suffering from:

• Migraine or vascular headaches.

• Constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, or regular bloating.

• Dermatological disorders such as dry skin, atopy, or psoriasis.

• Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Feel good resolutions

THE new year might be already upon us, but don’t worry if you haven’t created any resolutions yet. Today, we’re sharing four feelgood lifestyle resolutions ­ and the best part? None of them include dieting or exercising.

• Try volunteering

Giving back to your community is one of the simplest ways to feel good about yourself and others. There are so many worthy organisations operating in Spain, so whether education, healthcare, or fighting poverty is your passion, there is something for you.

• Grow something Gardening may seem like an intimidating activity for many, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can start as small or as big as you like with gardening, but one thing is for sure, tak ­

ing care of a living plant and introducing some greenery to your home can only be positive for your mental health.

• Redecorate

You don’t need to break the bank, but giving a room a lick of paint can give it a new lease of life and give you the change you need in your

home.

• Create a bedtime

If you want to improve the quality of your sleep and feel better in your daily routine, creating a bedtime is a great way to do this.

This will help you feel fresher in the morning and give you energy all day long.

DENTURES: Will be custom made to replace your missing teeth.

Partial dentures

I HAVE been told by my Dentist that I need to have a partial denture as implants are not an option for me due to the lack of bone density in the jaw. Will the denture be made to look natural?

When a person is missing teeth, he or she may experience a variety of problems, lack of confident when smiling or difficulty pronouncing

words when speaking or eating certain foods.

Dentures are appliances that are custom made to replace a person’s missing teeth and restore the appearance and oral functions that were lost.

When the denture does not fit correctly or an accident happens and our dentures break or fracture and we can

no longer use them, it can be overwhelming and embarrassing.

After all, we need them, just as the same as anyone with natural teeth, to carry on life as normal. For most denture wearers, broken or ill­fitting dentures are cause for an emergency and need to be treated by your Dentist as just that, ‘An Emergency’.

Don’t wait, find a Dental practice in your area that can offer an Express Dental Service, often being able to fix dentures within the hour or while you wait without compromising on the quality of the work done.

DAO DEFICIENCY: An imbalance.

By Clinica Britannia

GROW SOMETHING: Which will provide you with an interesting project and add some greenery to your home.

Photo credit: Lucigerma / shutterstock.com

The long awaited

Nomad

ON December 2, 2022, the BOE (Spanish State Official Gazette) published the new approved Law n. 28/2022, of December 21, promoting the system of emerging companies, also known as the ‘Startups Law’. The law came into force on December 23, 2022.

The law will not only affect companies, but will also introduce a new kind of visa for so­called ‘Digital Nomad Visa’, ie thirdcountry nationals (non EU), for example United Kingdom, Canada, United States etc who will be authorised to stay in Spain to carry out a professional activity at a distance for companies located outside the national territory, through the use of computer systems, telematics and telecommunications.

What could be termed very loosely as working from home in Spain for a company located outside of Spain, for example, in the United Kingdom or any other non EU country.

The new type visa, will have a new type

here in Spain

of residence permit connected to it, valid initially for one year and extendable for two or three year periods, depending on your circumstances, there is no limit to the number of extensions, of course provided that the conditions and requirements required by law remain.

Finally, the rule also regulates in a new way income revenues and tax declarations of this type of workers and enterprises.

If you are a non­EU country worker, again for example the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, both self­employed or a dependent of a foreign company, and your work can be carried out mainly at a distance by computer or telematic means, we can give you advice and help you get your new visa as Digital Nomad as well as your next residence in Spain, so that you can continue your work, enjoying the climate and quality of life of the Costa del Sol or Spain in general.

Marisa Moreno Castillo

A Permacrisis Omnishambles

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

THE ousting of two prime ministers, rising inflation and war led to ‘permacrisis’ (an extended period of instability) being named the 2022 Collins Dictionary word of the year. Other words include Carolean, (the reign of King Charles), splooting (the way animals stretch to cool down) and quiet quitting (doing no more work than contractually required).

Apart from Kiev and, ahem, Partygate (don’t ask!), there’s lawfare (using legal proceedings to intimidate), sportswashing (sponsorship/promotion of sporting events to enhance a tarnished reputation), vibe shift (a significant change in a prevailing trend) and warm bank (a heated building where people who can’t afford

their own heating may go).

Well, let’s see if I got them all in the following version:

In the post­Partygate permacrisis that greeted the vibe shift to a new Carolean age, while war raged in Kyiv and the unseasonably warm autumn left dogs splooting at warm banks, the quiet quitting generation crowdfunded lawfare to keep sportswashing in the headlines.

This time we have ‘permacrisis’. In the past we had ‘omnishambles’ and ‘fustercluck’ [anagram!]. Is it just coincidental that new words to describe the misery suffered by millions appear when we have Old Etonian school mates in charge?

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.

WOKE OR NOT

I WAS shocked by the recent article ‘The norm’ by Leapy Lee. (December 22 ­ 28 , 2022)

Leapy is definitely an old ‘lad’ of the 60s or more like the dark ages.

He compared old drag queens to today’s transsexuals.

No facts, just silly right ­ wing hysteria about gender neutral toilets.

How more outdated, out of touch and offensive could old Leapy be?

It sticks in his craw that minorities are allowed to shout their beliefs from the rooftops.

I’m surprised he didn’t use the old phrase about it being rammed down his throat!

I will shout loud and proud from the rooftops for equality, diversity, fairness and compassion. And if that’s being woke then I’m proud to be woke.

Leapy is absolutely not the norm, he’s from the dark old past.

Darren Bradshaw (Torreblanca, Fuengirola)

Christmas specials

I would just like to say how much I have enjoyed the Christmas articles in the paper over the last few weeks. I am of a certain age, and being the biggest Christmas fan, thought that there is very little that I didn’t know about Christmas, and was fascinated reading about the meaning behind certain songs and traditions. Well done.

Joy Lovall

Pick it up

Fed up now of seeing dog muck on the street. If you are going to have a dog please be responsible and pick up their mess, it is not the street cleaners or anybody else’s job to do this.

B Simpson

Keep on doing

Leapy, I love reading your column, it really does make me smile, not just because you say what other people are thinking, but you stand by your thoughts, never apologetic, which takes a real strong character. Keep doing what you are doing and don’t mind the woke generation.

Brian James, Marbella

Total shambles

We will still be unravelling from the Brexit referendum in 10 years time. Ok it may in the long run make good on some of the promises made during the Brexit campaign, but on the whole it will only cause misery. I live in Spain and like thousands of expats who have recently moved abroad or are thinking about moving abroad it has caused nothing but heartache and headaches and for some destroyed long held hopes and dreams of living outside of the UK. Complications with driving licences, residencia applications, visas etc is not the problem of the host country they are simply following the EU rules for non EU citizens, blame the politicians and the UK population that voted for it the first place. Total shambles from the start.

New junction numbers

I read your article shifting gears about the new road numbers, and I have to agree that this is so confusing. I understand about them being replaced due to duplication, but the hassle that faces many landlords and businesses having to explain the new junction numbers to holidaymakers and consumers alike. Sometimes a small problem for the few, can become a bigger problem for many.

Cathy Moore Malaga

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.

G Barry

THE NORM: Woke or not, everybody has a voice.

CANINE or feline root canal therapy is a common endodontic treatment that is an alternative to extraction for injured or infected teeth. Root canal therapy is a treatment which involves removing infected pulp from the root canal of the tooth, disinfecting the canal, and replacing the removed tissue with dental material. The root canal is accessed through the crown of the tooth.

Standard root canal therapy permits the pet to keep the tooth maintaining its function, as the structural integrity of the tooth has been preserved.

https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=BvTJGtlijz0

Winter cat care

PET experts often talk about winter care for pets that spend lots of time outdoors, but this isn’t always the case with cats. Today we’re bringing you some expert advice from vets on how you can take the best care of your cat now that temperatures have dropped.

Healthcare

The first step towards

Top 10 names

YOUR dog’s name is one of the most important decisions you will make during their lives, you’re giving a name to another member of the family and you’re sure to use it many times every day!

But naming your dog isn’t the easiest job in the world, it needs to work well with their appearance, character and be appropriate for all of the stages in their lives. According to dog training experts, your dog’s name should also be simple enough that it will be easily recognisable for them when you call them.

Today we’re sharing a list of the top 10 dog names in Spain in 2022, to give you an insight into the latest pet trends in the country, or to give you some inspi ­

ration if you’re searching for the perfect name!

This year’s top names were exclusively one or two syllables long showing the popularity of catchy names that you can easily call and your dog can pick up quickly. Movie names also tended to be particularly popular this year with Thor, Rocky and Nala making the top 10 list.

Female dogs Luna, Kira, Nala, Lola, Bella

Male dogs Coco, Thor, Max, Leo, Rocky

happiness for your cat is its health. Ensure that your cat is up ­ to ­ date with all necessary vaccinations against seasonal and general sicknesses, particularly at this time of year when immune systems are often weaker.

Nutritious diet

Vets warn against overfeeding your cat during the winter. Cats tend to exercise less during cold spells of weather, so adjust their diet accordingly to avoid excess weight gain which can cause health problems. Nutritious food and fresh water are essential aspects of your cat’s winter wellbeing.

Sleeping space

Ensure your cat has a comfortable and warm place to sleep. Take advantage of sunny spots by opening curtains for daytime cat naps and use blankets or a heater during the night if necessary.

Physical activity

Encourage your cat to stay active during the winter. Playing simple games with your cat has physical benefits for your cat as well as keeping them warm, and developing your bond with your pet.

Photo credit: Mariia Boiko / shutterstock.com

Help your cat to take advantage of sunny spots for naps in your home over the winter by opening curtains completely.

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THE SALVATION ARMY English Speaking Church of Denia Worship Service. Sunday 10.30am followed by a time of Fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Come as you are! For more information: Dieter Zimmerer +34 698 609 658 or Barbara Zimmerer +34 652 319 810 Email dieterzimmerer@ hotmail.com, www.centrosaron. com (10008)

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Start the year with a classic alternative

byMarkSlack

WITH so many car makers sharing platforms and engines, mergers and

amalgamations of brands, it’s perhaps no surprise that many cars feel rather similar. Arguably in many cases look similar too. For example one company is

now in control of Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Vauxhall/Opel, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Maserati, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and Abarth.

Unless you pay a lot of money for your car, and even then there are companies sharing parts and technology, individuality is becoming a rare commodity. Cars seem to have become the automotive equivalent of white goods, we buy them when needed and change them for a newer, more efficient model in a few years.

However it doesn’t have to be this way. Many modern classics are perfectly useable day ­ to ­ day and can be subtly tweaked to provide a more modern driver experience. Cars like Renault’s once ubiquitous 5 can be had for very little money, in good condition and provide a

characterful and economic daily commute.

Even newer companies like SEAT have a back catalogue providing far more character and interest than a modern equivalent. More luxurious modern day classics such as Mercedes Benz models from the 1980s/ 90s are incredibly useable and surprisingly economical in daily use.

Another benefit is that many countries and cities

give exemptions to classic vehicles in terms of road tax and charging schemes.

If you like your cars then driving a modern classic can draw far more attention than some uber ­ posh modern car, and it’s not the kind of negative attention that modern super cars can sometimes draw. It’s also a way to drive a car that you would never have been able to afford in the

day, and certainly wouldn’t be able to afford its modern equivalent. So on both economic and style grounds modern day classics seem to be a winning choice for classy and unusual transport.

There are downsides though. No matter how much you improve the driving experience, a modern classic will never, in this writer’s view, drive as well, or as easy, as a modern car. Although many modern day classics have a great parts network, increasingly via the manufacturer but also specialists, depending on your choice, some parts can take a while to track down.

So take a look at the classic car press and online presence, do your research and you may just find the most interesting and stylish car you’ve ever owned.

MODERN CLASSICS: Are perfectly useable day-to-day and can be subtly tweaked.

PORTUGUESE football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is believed to have finalised a mega ­ deal with Al Nassr football club in Saudi Arabia. This is according to a tweet on, Friday, December 30, from Al Arabiya, which read: ‘Al­Nassr Saudi Arabia officially contracts with Cristiano Ronaldo for two seasons’.

Currently, after seven wins from their opening 10 games of the season, Al Nassr lies in second position in the Saudi Pro League table.

Since leaving Manchester

£173 million a year

United in November when his contract was terminated following the explosive Piers Morgan interview the 37year­old captain of Portugal has been free to search for a new employer.

Revolutionary golf

AUSTRALIA is about to witness a revolutionary new golf format with a new teams­based event, the Ultra Golf Championship, set to be launched following next season’s major tournaments with the rest of Europe to follow.

The Ultra Golf Championship (UGC) will debut in December 2023, played over nine holes with a unique and exciting scoring system. Dates and venues will be announced shortly.

There will be 10 city­based teams from around the world who will compete for the inaugural title which will feature four players, including a marquee captain, with the competition set to be

played over four days, the teams of four split into pairs for the competition.

The scoring system is designed for thrilling golf: 10 points for an ace, eight for an albatross, six for an eagle, four for a birdie and two for a par. It also includes four feature hole opportunities that must be used during the nine­hole round, including the longest drive, power­play, alternate­shot and a best­ball.

With the teams playing seven rounds and a final series, there will be 74 matches played over four days, with the top four playing off in the finals

1 v 2 Grand Final, 3 v 4 playing for third place.

The hype surrounding Cristiano’s future subsided during the World Cup in Qatar where he was representing his country. Prior to the tournament though there had been a series of rumours claiming that he was being offered £173 million a year to play in the Middle Eastern kingdom, something he denied during the interview with Morgan.

According to an astonishing report in a national Spanish publication on Monday, January 2, the mega deal contract will allow Cristiano Ronaldo to sign for Newcastle United.

This clause would be triggered in the event of the Premier League club qualifying for the Champions League they claimed.

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Credit: Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley /Shutterstock.com

World mourns Next generation

THE Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have announced the launch of the Accelerator Programme.

The groundbreaking initiative is designed to accelerate the careers of young aspiring tennis players in 2023.

The programme will see playing opportunities at ATP Challenger Tour ­ level reserved for the world’s top junior players, creating an accelerated pathway into professional tennis. The new initiative supplements the 2023 Challenger Tour changes announced in September, which signal ATP’s long ­ term strategy for the circuit through significant prize money increases, a balanced calendar and an increase in total and premium playing opportunities.

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, confirmed: “Tennis has always been a sport that rewards hard work, and we must create an environment that allows young, aspiring players to reach their potential. It is our responsibility to open the door to opportunity and allow them to thrive in the sport. The Accelerator Programme is creating a pathway for the next generation of champions and we look forward to see ­

BRAZIL f ootball legend Pele passed away on, Thursday, December 29, at the age of 82. The footballer had been in hospital for the last four weeks battling cancer but his body had reportedly stopped responding to treatment. His death was confirmed in his homeland by the country’s government.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was arguably the greatest footballer to have graced the game. During a glittering career, the No10 became the only player to even win the World Cup three times. His nation landed the trophy in 1958, 1962, and again in 1970.

At the age of 15, Pele made his debut for Santos FC, and broke into the national side when he was just 16. In Sweden on June 29, 1958, Pele became the youngest player to appear in the final of a World Cup tournament aged 17 years and 249 days.

Such was the demand for this incredible footballer that in 1961, Janio Quadros, the President of Brazil, declared Pele an ‘official national treasure’ to prevent him from being transferred to

New manager

AFTER being sacked by Bournemouth, Scott Parker made a dream return to top­level management on Saturday, December 31. The 42­year­old has been named as the new head coach of Belgian giants Club Brugge.

He was welcomed with a tweet on the club’s official Twitter profile that read: ‘The Englishman has just been appointed as our new head coach’.

Fabrizio Romano, the esteemed sports journalist also announced Scott’s new position with a tweet that read: “Official. Club Brugge have appointed Scott Parker as new head coach after he was sacked by Bournemouth in August. #Brugge Parker will be managing in the UCL knockout stages.”

As a result, he faces the prospect of Champions League football for the first time in his management career. The Belgians are in the last 16 of the tournament where they will play the first leg at home against the Portuguese giants Benfica on February 15.

After a 9­0 thrashing by Liverpool at Anfield, Parker was fired by Bournemouth, only four matches into the new season.

During his career, he racked up an astonishing 1,279 goals in 1,363 games. This total though included friendly matches, but is still recognised as an official Guinness World Record. His record of 77 international goals was only this month broken by Neymar at the 2022

Shutterstock.com/ Nelson Antoine

Football legend passed away aged 82.