Mallorca 12 • 18 January 2023 Issue 1958

MEGA STAR SPOTTED

HOLLYWOOD A ­ lister Morgan Freeman surprised locals when he was spotted dining at Mallorca restaurant Sandro on Sunday, January 8.

Freeman said: “It’s the best Bolognese I’ve ever eaten in my life,” according to the Italian restaurant’s owner Sandro Putignano.

The restaurateur told one publication: “Until they turned up I didn’t know it was going to be him. At first we were a little doubtful and we were looking for photos of him on the internet, until we were sure.

“They arrived early in the service, around 7.15pm, and left around 10pm. They were a group of five people and they were having dinner qui ­

etly, like any other client.”

The actor later posed for photos with the San ­

Royal upgrade

SPAIN’S glamorous royal family is famous for holidaying on Mallorca each summer and now their official residence on the island, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina in Palma, is set for a facelift thanks to a grant from the Spanish government.

The work will include the musealisation and adaptation of the Visitor Reception Centre with an investment of €1.64 million.

On Wednesday, January 11, the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Maria Reyes Maroto, confirmed: “We are continuing the work begun last year with Patrimonio Nacional to strengthen Spain’s tourist attractions and the wealth of its destinations. We are improving heritage assets whose historical and artistic value are a powerful magnet for attracting visitors to the country.”

dro, which the business owner later posted to Instagram saying: “We still can’t believe it. Morgan

We will never forget this moment, thank you!”

Lights, camera, action

ONCE again part of Palma will be on the big screen as filming has begun on a new series starring Academy Award winner, Nicole Kidman.

On Wednesday, January 11, activity began around Hotel Gloria with scores of film crew seen milling about. Security was tight, with even the windows that look out onto the street of the fivestar hotel boarded up.

Nicole is set to star alongside series leads Zoe Saldana and Laysla De Oliveira and will also serve as an executive producer.

Lioness is based on a real ­ life CIA programme and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rougharound­the­edges but passionate young marine recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organisation from within.

Kidman will play Kaitlyn Meade, the CIA’s senior supervisor who has had a long career playing the politics game and must juggle the trappings of being a woman in the high­ranking intelligence community.

Freeman at home, we couldn’t be more excited.

Royal Palace.

MORGAN FREEMAN: Was spotted in a restaurant in Mallorca.

Squash courts

THE week commencing Monday, January 9, saw the Department of Infrastructures and Accessibility begin work on installing five accessible squash and multiplayer courts in Palma’s green spaces and squares.

This work requires an investment of €10,854.

The work will include the installation of five squash courts distributed in such a way that they are accessible to areas such as the Son Martorell green zone, the Son Gibert park, the Credit Balear green zone, La Petrolera, Son Fuster and Joan Alzina.

Likewise, areas such as the Placa de Josep Maria Llompart, La Gruta and the Romero de Torres green area also have these facilities which encourage people to play outdoor games next to children’s playgrounds and green areas.

Other parts of Palma such as the Parc de les Estacions, the Parc de Manuel Azana and the Placa de Guillem Moragues were the first to have these new accessible playgrounds.

Filtered fountains

PALMA now has 47 filtered drinking water fountains in different parts of the city’s streets, squares and public spaces. The fountains have provided a total of 1,553,830 litres of water to users over the course of 2022.

In 2022, 14 new filtered drinking water fountains were installed with the aim of providing quality water for drinking by the public, promoting the consumption of tap water and reducing the use of plastic containers.

They are in addition to the 33 installed between 2019 and 2021 located in the areas with the greatest influx of tourists, as the aim of this project is to move towards sustainable and circular tourism.

These drinking water fountains have a filtering system similar to domestic devices in order to im­

prove their taste, with a carbon filter. The fountains are specially designed to fill reusable bottles and canteens, some of them also have a drinking arm and an

outlet at ground level for drinking cans.

They are fitted with a counter so that they can be used to monitor their use and detect faults or malfunctions.

Mallorcan solidarity

MANACOR Town Council has renewed the grant it provides each year to the Mallorcan Solidarity Fund. The municipal contribution to the Fund is €20,000 and will be used to finance the project ‘Commitments to Agenda 2030: training workshops and dissemination’.

The project will facilitate the monitoring of municipal policies to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda is an action plan promoted and approved by the United Nations that sets out 17 major global goals to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all people, with the aim of achieving a more sustainable world. The collaboration agreement was signed on Sunday, January 8.

The Fons Mallorquí de Solidarity Society is an entity dedicated to coordinating the policies of the public administrations and private entities of Mallorca to the Third World, in order to make the cooperation and solidarity efforts of the Mallorcan people towards underdeveloped countries more effective. According to its statutes, one of its aims is to administer and manage the economic funds allocated to the association for projects in the Third World.

Airport recovery

IT looks as though things are starting to pick up as AENA (the airport management group which includes Palma de Mallorca Airport) closed 2022 with a total of 243,681,775 passengers. This figure represents an 88.5 per cent recovery in passenger traffic compared to 2019, the last year before the impact of the Covid­19 pandemic.

For the month of December, the recovery was close to 100 per cent, standing at 98.1 per cent compared to the same month in 2019, with a total of 17,897,162 passengers.

Throughout the year, the number of aircraft move­

ments was 2,216,327, representing a recovery of 93.9 per cent over 2019; and 1,000,356 tonnes of cargo were transported which is 6.5 per cent less than in 2019.

Of the total number of passengers recorded in 2022, 242,881,309 were commercial passengers, of which 82,319,704 travelled on domestic flights, 3.8 per cent less than in 2019, and 160,561,605 travelled on international flights, 15 per cent less.

Palma de Mallorca Airport saw 28,573,364 passengers in 2022, which is a slight decrease of 3.9 per cent compared to 2019.

FRESH WATER: Designed for refilling bottles.

Image: Palma City Council

AENA: Things are starting to pick up.

Image: AENA

Double votes

THE number of voters from European countries resident in the Balearic Islands has doubled. They have an electoral roll of 16,481 voters when in 2019 there were about 8,600. Those from the EU have until January 30 to register to vote and those from other countries only have until January 15.

Luxury market

CAN Bordoy Grand House & Garden celebrates the consolidation of the luxury market in Palma. In 2022 it has doubled the number of different nationalities it sees. “The Australian and New Zealand markets are increasing,” said the establishment which will be celebrating its fifth anniversary since opening in Palma in 2023.

Fishy contribution

THE database that collects observations of rare fish in the Balearics (DAPERA), has recorded 53 contributions of 19 different species during 2022. Of the species cited to DAPERA this year, 53 per cent are endangered species, while 47 per cent are new arrivals.

Bicipalma

THE new Bicipalma service will have a total of 930 bicycles, 270 of them electric. At the moment, only 350 pedal­powered vehicles can be used; the rest will be added in the coming weeks. This renewal of the service is part of the city’s transformation, with a firm commitment to sustainable mobility.

Easier life

THE mayor of Andratx, Estefania Gonzalvo Guirado, wants to reopen the office for non­Spaniards which was introduced to make life easier for foreign residents when it comes to paperwork issues and general life in Spain. The mayor is also deeply opposed to calls to restrict the property buying of non­residents.

New Paseo Maritimo

FOUR information panels have been placed in the area, next to the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands explaining, in summary, the details of the planned upgrade for the Paseo Maritimo.

The information relates to aspects such as the space for pedestrians, the incorporation of more trees and flowerbeds, the connections with the adjacent neighbourhoods, the children’s play areas and the

Due for an upgrade.

extension of the green zones. The area to be remodelled is 3.5 kilometres and 183,670 m², has a budget of €38 million

and a completion date of 20 months.

Palma’s mayor, Jose Hila confirmed: “It is very exciting and transform ­

ing work which designs the new Palma that we are building. We are in a space that has always been a barrier between the city and the sea, it is also the city’s seafront, one of the most important spaces, which will be transformed and give Palma a more modern image.”

The mayor affirmed that “the new Paseo Maritimo is the future of the city, a space in which the visitor will be the protagonist.”

Rapid intervention Tourism grants

THE mayor of Andratx, Estefania Gonzalvo, has once again asked the Conselleria de Salut i Consum, as she did in October, to assign a Rapid Intervention Vehicle to Andratx for the duration of the closure of the tunnels of Son Vic and Sa Coma after the restart of the works.

In this way, Gonzalvo seeks that Health reactivates the foreseeable risk device due to the increase in travel time and the difficulty of health evacuations in the optimum time to ensure the

health of those affected by an emergency.

In this sense, Gonzalvo regrets that: “The Regional Ministry has not reactivated this device at the same time as it closed the tunnels given that we are in the same situation as in October.

“We are listening to the councillor’s prudence and understanding, and we hope that she will guarantee the safety of the residents of Andratx and our visitors,” added Gonzalvo.

Holidays in Peace

PALMA’S councillor for Social Justice, Alberto Jarabo, has signed a collaboration agreement to contribute to the expenses for the development of the project ‘Holidays in Peace’, an initiative to welcome Sahrawi children during the summer.

The main objective is to contribute to improving the health of Sahrawi children in the refugee camps in Tindouf (Algeria), guaranteeing adequate health care for the children and raising public awareness of the Sahrawi cause and its current reality.

The councillor confirmed: “This agreement means giving support to a programme that allows many children to enjoy a holiday on the islands, enabling them to take a break from their reality in the refugee camp where they live.

THE Balearic Islands are to receive €30 million before 2024 to finance tourism resilience strategies.

The Council of Ministers has approved the Royal Decree regulating the granting of €64 million in subsidies to finance tourism resilience strategies for non ­ mainland territories.

This aid will be distributed among the Balearic Islands (€30m), the Canary Islands (€30m), Ceuta (€2m) and Melilla (€2m).

The subsidies will contribute to the recovery of the tourist ecosystem in these areas and will have a significant economic and social impact. The deadline for the implementation of these grants is December 2024.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Maria Reyes Maroto, confirmed that: “This aid will make it possible to strengthen the tourist attractiveness of the two archipelagos and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla after the impact of the pandemic.

“It will improve their tourist competitiveness by financing investments in obsolete tourist infrastructure, the environmental management of the destinations and the promotion of sustainable mobility, among others. With this programme, we are also contributing to social, economic and territorial cohesion,” the councillor added.

Bank holidays

THE 2023 working calendar sets 12 public holidays. Ten of them will be celebrated throughout Spain, while the remaining two will be regional holidays: the Day of the Balearic Islands and Easter Monday.

The number of non­working days in 2023 is the same as in 2022, but with one significant change: December 26, the second Christmas holiday, will not be a regional holiday.

This decision has been taken by the Consell de Govern, which has only set March 1, (Day of the Balearic Islands) and April 10, (Easter Monday).

Therefore, in 2023, the public holidays will be as follows: January 6, March 1, April 6, April 10,

May 1, August 15, October 12, November 1, December 6, December 8 and December 25.

“From the town hall, we also want to call on the solidarity of all the families who want to take in some children this summer through the ‘Holidays in Peace’ programme, an initiative that has been providing opportunities for many children for more than 30 years.”

Cancer Care Mallorca

MALLORCA Cancer Support Group issued a heartfelt thank you message to all supporters on the island and afar whose generous donations over the Christmas period gave the charity a much needed festive boost.

As well as ordinary weekly events, members of the group organised two festive fairs selling a range of Christmas products. Special thanks were also in order for Club 41, Esra and Golf Challenge Mallorca who all made donations over the period.

Mallorca Cancer Support Group are also appealing for volunteers with any amount of time to give, from one hour a month to a weekly commitment. Volunteers will receive training and can sign up online: https://www.can

MALLORCA’S Classic Car Club is cruising into the new year with its first rally set to take place at the end of the month on Saturday, January 29.

Route organiser, Jean­Pierre Allemann recently released the details of the next edition of the popular event. Rallies organised by the club allow members to discover more of the island by enjoying exciting coastal routes while sharing a love for classic automobiles.

This edition of the car rally, nick ­

Radical change

cersupportmallorca.com/pa ges/6­volunteer

The group got straight to work with fundraising in the new year, with a White Collar Boxing challenge, organised by the Renegade Martial Arts group which was launched on Monday, January 9, and will see boxers develop their skills while raising vital funds to support cancer sufferers in the area.

Sport lovers will also fundraise for the group at the island’s unique ‘tramuntathlon’ which will take place on Saturday, April 15, combining the disciplines of running, swimming and kayaking.

Almond Blossom Rally

named the Almond Blossom Rally will see car lovers meet in their cars at Es Cruze in central Palma, where they can enjoy coffee and refreshments before the driving gets underway at 10.30am.

Drivers will then enjoy a scenic route all the way down to the port at Cala Ratjada where they will enjoy a delicious meal at Restaurant La Trattoria at 1.30pm. Diners will be

offered the choice of fish or asparagus soup to start followed by a seabass or Iberian pork main, as well as beer, coffee and water.

The event costs €35 for members and an additional €15 applies for non­members.

Tickets can be purchased online: https://ccc­mallorca.com/events/al mond ­ blossom ­ rally ­ 29th ­ january2023­at­10­30­am/.

A RADICAL change in the weather has been forecast as a polar front arrives in Mallorca which means next week could bring the first snowfall of the year to the island.”

Mallorca will suffer a radical change in the weather next week, which will cause a drop in temperatures, wind, rain, and it could even snow on the highest peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana.”

This was announced on Wednesday, January 11, by the delegate and spokesperson for the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in the Balearic Islands, Maria Jose Guerrero.

The spokesperson confirmed that: “The stable weather will give way to the arrival of several fronts, some of them with polar air, and a trough at high levels; they will first affect the Peninsula and then Mallorca.

“The forecast is that the fronts will begin to pass over the island on Sunday, January 15, in the evening and are expected to ease on Thursday, January 19.

“At present, daytime temperatures are reaching 17º ­ 18º and next week they are expected to move between 13º and 14º.”

Excessive tourism

THE new Secretary of State for Tourism and former Director General of Tourism in the Balearic Islands, Rosana Morillo, has hired Enrique Gomez Bastida, commander of the Guardia Civil, as her chief of staff.

Both have worked side by side over the last few years to eradicate excessive tourism in Playa de Palma, Palmanova­Magaluf and Santa Eulalia. This joint collaborative work is what has led the Secretary of State to consider him a “person of absolute confidence.”

Commander Gomez Bastida is a member of the Benemerita who is well ­ known throughout the tourism sector for his work and dialogue to carry out joint projects with the Govern, town councils and councils in the area of tourism security.

Spain is one of Europe’s main tourism regions, and Mallorca is its flagship. In the Balearic Islands, where Mallorca is the most important one, tourism is the main industry, 85 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) stems from it. Eighty per cent of tourists to this island are international, mainly from Germany and the UK.

Photo credit: Cancer Support Group Mallorca (Via email)

Cancer Support Group Mallorca are always seeking more volunteers to help run their personalised, caring services.

Military missions

SPAIN is expected to send four military missions overseas in 2023 according to officials at the annual armed forces parade in Madrid on Friday, January 6. Forces will work for the United Nations, the European Union and NATO in military operations in Iraq, Lebanon, Mali and the Horn of Africa.

The annual military event took place at the Royal Palace in Madrid, with King Felipe VI making a speech.

The King praised Spanish armed forces’ commitment to their country and the international organisations they serve.

This year’s event saw a return to pre ­ pandemic scale proceedings, and authorities spoke about the most pressing military issues for the upcoming year.

The situation in Ukraine was at the top of the agenda for officials, with the King describing it as one of the

biggest challenges facing Europe and threatening security across the continent and in the entire world.

Defence spending has been increased in the 2023 budget to deal with the pressures of the war.

Spain’s response to the war in the last year has included welcoming refugees and increasing Spanish military presence in Latvia and other surrounding countries.

Reduction of VAT

THE Facua­Consumers in Action association has denounced seven large Spanish supermarket chains for not passing on the VAT reduction to all affected foods.

The complaint was made to the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) after the Spanish government lowered or removed VAT on essential foods at the beginning of January.

After a review carried out between December 30 and January 3, Facua looked at changes in 676 prices in Alcampo, Aldi, Carrefour, Dia, Eroski, Lidl, Hipercor and Mercadona.

Of all the companies analysed, Mercadona was

MOVISTAR and Vodafone customers in Spain face increased rates this month. Telefonica will raise Movistar’s rates from Friday, January 13 while Vodafone’s new rates will come into force on Sunday, January 22.

As announced to customers by the multinational, Movistar will put its prices up by an average of 6.8 per cent. The company also pointed out that this increase is lower than 2022’s average CPI of 8.4 per cent.

Telefonica explained that this new price rise is not due to inflation but is a result of an in­

the only chain without any anomalies in how they had implemnted the VAT reduction. The consumer association found the supermarkets with the most price issues were Dia and Carrefour.

Since January 1 ­ and for the next six monthsthe Spanish government has decreed that 0 per cent VAT will be applied to bread, bread flour, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, pulses, potatoes and cereals. For oils and pasta, on the other hand, the tax rate has been reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.

This analysis is the first of the price monitoring campaign that Facua has launched and will continue to carry out in the coming months.

Phone increases

crease in costs in the telecommunications sector.

Vodafone announced at the end of last year that from 2023 it would update its packages according to the averaged annual CPI. This will mean approximately an extra €2.50 on average for mobile­only plans, and €5.50 on average for its convergent plans. The company has justified the price rises by point­

ing out that it is the first increase in 18 months.

It is being done with the aim of curbing the impact of inflation on costs, energy, and suppliers the company insisted. The increases will also enable the operator to cope with the pace of investment in the infrastructure of its innovative network and services.

According to a recent analysis by the price comparator Kelisto.es, Telefonica and Vodafone could generate up to €486 million in additional revenue with these new charges.

Rudest cities

Betty Henderson

AN amusing study claims to have found the top 10 rudest cities in Spain, and there are some surprises on the list!

The research, released by Preply data analytics site on Thursday, January 5 is based on interviews with 1,500 residents in 19 regions of the country.

Participants in the study were asked to categorise rudeness in different cities on a scale of one to 10 and to define rude behaviour that they had come across in each of the locations. An­

nouncing the results of the survey, researchers explained that although some cities are considered ruder than others, people in Spain

are generally thought to be polite, or at least they are in public!

The top 10 rudest cities in Spain are Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Granada, Elche, San Sebastián, Bilbao, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Malaga, Valladolid, and Madrid.

On the other hand, the study also revealed the most polite cities in Spain.

The northern city of Vigo came out on top thanks to the generosity of its residents and openness to strangers.

MILITARY PRESENCE: The Royal Family greeted Armed Forces in the annual Epiphany parade held in the capital last Friday.

Photo credit: Familia Real Española (Via Facebook)

RUDE RESIDENTS : Santa Cruz de Tenerife was voted as Spain’s rudest city in a recent study.

Photo credit: RossHelen / shutterstock.com

Sustainable supermarket

THE Spanish supermarket giant, Mercadona has become the first in the sector to carry out mass testing of a new sustainable scheme using electric ­ powered haulage. The supermar ­

ket announced it was aiming to transition to electric power on Monday, January 9.

The company has made no secret of its commitment to the environment and its goal

to adapt to global climate goals by reforming its haulage scheme, including by acquiring its first two all ­ electric trucks at the end of 2022.

In recent months, the company has conducted several pilot schemes with logistics companies Disfrimur and Acotral to assess the efficiency of electric haulage.

The scheme aimed to assess the practicality of using 100 per cent electric lorries given the limited charging infrastructure in the country and the time constraints of charging vehicles up. Project coordinators devised the most effective routes in two project areas, Madrid and Murcia, and were able to efficiently supply and stock six supermarkets.

TOBACCO companies in Spain could be forced to pay to clean up all the discarded cigarette butts, as per the new environmental regulations.

The law, in accordance with the European Union rules, aims to limit single-use plastic after it came into effect from Friday January 6 onwards.

It is a part of several measures that have been designed by the Spanish government to reduce waste and increase the amount of recycling in the country as well as obligating polluters to cleanup.

According to a study done in Catalonia, cited by a national news source, the total cost of cigarette butt clean-up is estimated between €12€21 per smoker per annum, which in total amounts to over €1 billion.

Although it still remains unclear how the clean-up will be implemented, experts suggest that the tobacco companies will eventually pass this cost on to the customer.

According to environmental experts, each butt takes over 10 years to decompose. Several toxins including arsenic and lead are also released into the atmosphere during their decomposition process.

UNLIKE the vast majority of caterpillars, this particular species can be harmful to young children and sometimes fatal to dogs and cats.

Between December and

Stub it out

CIGARETTE ENDS: Take years to decompose.

Tribute paid

HAYATE , a young mother of four children, was murdered around midnight on Sunday, January 8, allegedly by her ex ­ partner who is already in custody.

The mayor of Adeje, Jose Miguel Rodriguez Fraga, and Adeje residents held a minute’s silence at midday on Monday, January 9, to express their unanimous repulsion against this kind of violence and as a mark of respect for Hayate’s family and friends.

The Adeje Town Council declared official mourning in the municipality for the murder of Hayate, suspending all leisure activities and flying the flags at half­mast on Tuesday, January 10.

The mayor said: “I want to strongly express our rejection of any type of violence, especially gender violence, which we are experiencing this week. From Adeje, we want to express the repulsion and pain of the whole town. We would like to send our support for the family, as well as give thanks to the intervention of the neighbour who made it possible to arrest the aggressor.”

Not so cute

April, the larvae will make their way to the ground to pupate and eventually

Grumpy but loved

READERS of the Euro Weekly News will be delighted to know that one of the paper’s best loved columnists, Grumpy Old Man Mike Senker, is set to be back in the writing saddle once again following a break while he moves house.

The popular writer, whose musings on everything from modern customer service to cancel culture have entertained readers over more than 300 columns, is expecting to complete his move later this month and begin contributing to the EWN again.

Explaining that he is busy with multiple projects these days, while Mike will not be returning with a column every week, he will be entertaining readers with his sharp insights into life on the Costas again in the following weeks.

Mike said: “I want to thank readers for their very kind wishes and I look forward to being back on the Euro Weekly’s pages very soon!.”

turn into moths between May and July. It is during these months that pets and young children are most vulnerable.

The processionary caterpillar is mostly found in pine trees in wooded forests and can be identified by the thousands of small fine poisonous hairs or bristles that cover their bodies, they are roughly three to four centimetres in length.

The name ‘processionary’ comes from the fact that they create a procession or caterpillarstyle ‘conga’ from head to tail to form a long chain. It is not unheard of to see chains with hundreds of them all joined together.

Shutterstock.com/

Larina Marina

Upstairs Downstairs

THE prolific novelist, author and playwright Fay Weldon whose works include the popular ITV drama series ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ died on Wednesday, January 4 according to a family statement.

According to the family she had been admitted to hospital with a broken bone in her back, but had suffered a stroke prior to her passing.

Born in Britain but raised in New Zealand, Weldon went on to write more than 30 novels as well as short stories and plays for radio, television and stage. She is perhaps best known for ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and her adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for the BBC. But she was also a prolific novelist writing children’s books, non­fiction books and newspaper articles.

Among her bestsellers was her 1978 novel Praxis which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction. She later went on to chair the judges’ panel for the prestigious award in 1983.

The death of the prolific novelist has resulted in many fans and colleagues taking to social media to express their sorrow at her loss, perhaps best summed up in the words of Jenny Colgan “She was formidable, fierce and wonderful.”

Hotel hospitals

UNDER pressure NHS hospitals in the southwest of England have resorted to using hotels as they work to free up beds for patients needing hospitalisation.

With the problem of bed blocking still to be resolved, NHS Trusts in Plymouth and Bristol are moving medically fit patients waiting for care packages to be put in place to enable them to return home, into local hotels.

According to a report on Friday, January 6, hotels have been using city centres hotels in Plymouth, Bristol and Devon

as far back as October 2022.

A spokesperson for NHS Devon said: “Care hotels are just one of many positive measures health and care partners have put in place to reduce pressure on busy health services this winter.

“They are not used for hospital patients and are used to provide social care for people who are medically fit and do not require hospital care, but do need additional living support after a stay in hospital or to prevent them from needing to be admitted.”

New royal traditions

THE Sovereign’s birthday is officially celebrated by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour (King’s Birthday Parade) which this year will

be the first one to celebrate the birthday of King Charles III on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

This impressive display of pageantry will involve the Regiments of the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with His Majesty The King attending and taking the salute.

His Majesty King Charles III will hold the appointment of Colonel­in­Chief of the Regiments of Household Division. Each Regiment has a Colonel who is normally either a member of the Royal Family or a senior officer.

The Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years.

This year will mark His Majesty King Charles III’s first Trooping of the Colour as Sovereign. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The King’s official birthday. The parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.

FAY WELDON: Formidable and wonderful.

Holocaust survivor Bea Franklin serves as real-life witness to history

HOLOCAUST survivor Bea Franklin really is an incredible lady. At 98 years of age, 99 in June, when most people her age would be taking it easy, Bea never stops! She sat down with the Euro Weekly News to discuss her fascinating life.

Bea’s marriage to Corporal Jerry Franklin exposed her to some of the most historic moments of the Second World War. “Jerry was a US Army photographer,” Bea explained. “He was there for invasions all throughout Europe and Africa and, most notably, took graphic photos at The Liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp.

“My husband was a very positive person, he never spoke about the holocaust, the photographs spoke for him. He just wanted to focus on the positives of life.”

Bea added: “One of his most iconic photos of him that we have in his photo album is one of then ­ president Franklin Roosevelt with future president Dwight Eisenhower. The pair are sitting in a jeep with General Patton at Castelvetrano Airport in Sicily, Italy, after the conferences at Tehran and Cairo on December 8 in 1943.”

Bea explained how her husband often crossed paths with some of Hollywood’s legendary film stars. “When film stars visited the frontlines Jerry took some great photos including Humphrey Bogart, Mickey Rooney, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Joe E Lewis, who became famous from his role in Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe.

“Even though Jerry took the photos, they don’t belong to him,” Bea confirmed. “As he was working for the US Army and they own the photos, we cannot use them

“Jerry has got copies of all the pictures he took and put them in albums, but this was back when you had to develop the photos yourself,” she quipped.

Bea was even present for the iconic ‘Kiss’ of the unknown sailor in New York’s Time Square just eight days

Nagasaki (Japan) at the end of the Second World War. “I was at university in New York when we heard the war in Europe was over” she said. “Everyone knew that Time Square would be the place to celebrate, people flooded the subway.

“We arrived in New York and witnessed the sailor kissing the nurse.”

When asked about her secret to longevity, 98­year­old Bea simply responded, “positive thinking!”

From a rooftop concert at the Astor Hotel where she saw legendary crooner Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey, to her household friends that included boxing legend Rocky Graziano, Bea has had an extraordinary life.

As well as surviving the Holocaust and being married to one of the era’s most famed wartime photographers, Bea is also the daughter of the founder of the automotive legend, The Pep Boys, which later morphed to the Strauss Stores.

Pep Boys is an American automotive aftermarket service chain. Originally named Pep Auto Supply, the company was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1921 by Emanuel ‘Manny’ Rosenfeld, Maurice ‘Moe’ Strauss, W Graham ‘Jack’ Jackson, and Moe Radavitz. Pep Boys is headquartered in the Philadelphia neighbourhood of Allegheny West.

In 1929, Izzy Strauss left to form his own auto supply business in Brooklyn, Strauss Stores, which later merged with Roth & Schlenger Home and Auto to form R&S Strauss, the ancestor of Strauss Discount Auto, later known as Strauss Auto which ran until the company’s clo

BEA FRANKLIN: Spoke about her fascinating life.

Credit: Bea Franklin

Sant Antoni

THE festivities of Sant Antoni in Sa Pobla are held on January 16 and 17 and have been declared to be of tourist interest.

On Monday January 16 at 2.30pm the parade with San Antonio and the band of devils will begin. At 8.00pm a solemn mass is followed by the lighting of the bonfires that will heat up the Sant Antoni festival, the witches’ night of the demons and zombies.

On Tuesday January 17 at 3.30pm all the pets who have been brought to the Sa Pobla are blessed followed by the parade of floats and troupes that begins in the Placa Major.

The festivities of Sant Antoni are celebrated in most of the municipalities on the island of Mallorca, but one of the places where the festival is celebrated with the greatest force is undoubtedly Sa Pobla.

This festival marks the beginning of the winter solstice, and as in many other festivals on the island, the ‘Dimonis’ or demons are the

most popular figure, but the streets of the town are also lined with Caparrots (bigheaded figures), giants and the Griffin, a kind of mythological beast almost three metres tall and weighing 50 kilograms that spits fire from its mouth and wingtips.

A must-see

PALMA City Council has confirmed the complete programme for the Sant Sebastia festivities. The detailed programme is made up of some 35 activities taking place from Saturday January 14 until Sunday January 29.

With a whopping budget of €1.1 million these festivities are a must­see.

Palma’s mayor, Jose Hila, confirmed the festivities are “at the level of the eighth largest city in Spain. People want to get out on the streets and, after two years of the pandemic, to have a good time and enjoy life.”

The mayor defended the progressive increase in the budget because “a strong fiesta” demands it.

The economic resources earmarked for the fiestas, he said, “will continue to grow so that they are the best in the Balearic Islands.”

Saint Sebastian was proclaimed patron saint of Palma de Mallorca due to the miraculous end of the plague of 1523 and 1524, with the arrival of a bone from the arm of Saint Sebastian from Rhodes. Festivities in his honour have been held in the city since the 17th century.

The detailed programme, which is available to the public, can be consulted online on the Palma Town Hall website: www.palma.cat

BONFIRES: Are list to celebrate this festival.

Image: Andris Barbans Shutterstock.com

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Danish discovery

SCIENTISTS have uncovered the remains of a huge building that likely dates to the era of Denmark’s first king. Archaeologists at the Historical Museum of Northern Jutland report they’ve discovered an ancient Viking hall, the biggest one found in more than a decade.

THE NETHERLANDS

Doubled Dutch

THE overall population in the Netherlands grew twice as fast last year compared to 2021. While the number of deaths has risen in the Netherlands, immigration remains a key factor for the sharp increase. Towns Eindhoven and Almere made it to the top in population growth.

BELGIUM

Belgium boost

ACCORDING to figures published by analysis firm NapoleonCat on January 6. Social networks gained more Belgian users in 2022. After a slight drop in user numbers in 2021, Facebook and Instagram saw increases last year, while Messenger's user base remained stable.

GERMANY

Tour tax

A PROPOSED tax on German holidays sold by companies outside of the EU has been scrapped for at least one year. The tax law would have made holidays to Germany more expensive and would also have required nonEU tour operators to file tax returns in Germany.

FRANCE

Limited Louvre

THE Louvre Museum in France has announced that it will limit the number of daily visitors to the famed institution in order to create a more enjoyable experience. Museum staff have decided to cap daily admissions at 30,000 because of a surge of visitors.

NORWAY

Oil profits

NORWAY once again saw record oil and gas profits in 2022. With energy prices soaring last year, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent scarcity of oil and gas in Europe, Norway recorded significant profits throughout the year.

FINLAND

Bee bacteria

THE US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the world's first vaccine for honey bees. Developed in Finland, the vaccine works against a bacterial condition known as American foul-brood disease that attacks bee larvae. The vaccine introduces inactive bacteria into the royal jelly fed to the queen.

IRELAND

Growing Ireland

A REPORT by the US Census Bureau has predicted that Ireland will experience the second-highest rate of population growth in Europe. Ireland's population will rise by 33 per cent above six million by 2050, according to the study.

ITALY

Fake serum

ITALIAN tennis star Camila Giorgi is under investigation for allegedly using fake Covid vaccination papers to enter Australia in 2022. Giorgi's family doctor was arrested in February and charged with administering hundreds of fake serums and paperwork to high-profile Italians.

PORTUGAL

Cheese Festival

THE Serra da Estrela de Oliveira do Hospital Cheese Festival which is considered to be ‘the biggest Cheese Festival in Portugal’, will take place on March 11 and 12, in the heart of the city in the district of Coimbra.

UKRAINE

Bye to Banksy

INVESTIGATIVE actions are ongoing against a group of people who dismantled a graffiti by UK artist Banksy ‘Woman in a Gas Mask’ in Hostomel, Kyiv. The police estimated the value of the graffiti to be UAH 9M (€229,489). The alleged organiser of the crime has been charged.

SWEDEN

Swedish getaway

DESPITE a weak start to the year due to the Omicron variant and other global concerns, Sweden’s airports welcomed nearly 28 million passengers in 2022 which is a 130 per cent increase on the 12 million that passed through the country’s gateways in 2021.

Calvia Mallorca

CALVIA, located on the beautiful island of Mallorca, is one of the most popular destinations for tourists and expatriates to want to either move to or visit for holidays due to its warm climate, stunning white sand beaches, sparkling crystal­clear sea, historical value, and abundance of amenities.

There are various beaches to visit throughout Calvia with more than 10 beaches having been awarded and flying the blue flag for quality from the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The beach is the perfect place to go to relax and enjoy the sun, sand, and sea while you are visiting.

Go for a walk around the town and experience Calvia in its traditional way. With many of the buildings dating back to the 17th century, the homes are a delightful ochre colour and are well­

known to the area. The Cruz del Descubrimiento is a beautiful monument to visit with top ­ class views of the coast surrounding you.

Spend time at the port, with the luxurious yachts and boats coming in and out of the harbour, take the day to people watch and shop.

The adventures in Calvia are endless with the perfect spot for hiking on the CR1 Peguera­Cap Andritxol Trail. With the trail for all abilities, take the afternoon and enjoy what Calvia’s mountains and coasts have to offer. With

ideal spots along the coast for snorkelling, enjoy the wildlife and seas, see if you can spot some of the fish from Finding Nemo while snorkelling and discovering the bays.

Another top spot to visit to get your heart rate going is Jungle Parc Mallorca. A tree­top adventure park with zip lines and climbs for an unforgettable and once ­ in­ a­ lifetime experience in Calvia. A perfect date or family daytime activity to keep everyone in high spirits.

With various delicious restaurants and exciting clubs, there is no shortage

evenings. One of the best clubs to visit while you are in Calvia is Nikki Beach, this trendsetter club has incredible food, glorious views, the most comfortable cabana beds and day beds to enjoy throughout your stay.

The best restaurants to visit all depend on your taste and what you are hungry for. If tapas, seafood or a real homecooked meal is on your mind here are just a few of the best restaurants to go to while staying in Calvia.

Many bars also serve creative cocktails and tasty small plates, with nights of live music as the sun is setting on the terrace. This is a must­do while in Calvia.

A popular destination.

Get your shopping discounts in Calvia!

OVER 2022, the town hall was able to help local small business using Bonos, these Bonos are still valid until February

but can unfortunately not be bought online at this moment of time, but may still be available on marketplace sites and

can be used in some of your favourite establishments.

If you are still in possession of Bonos be sure

to keep an eye out for shops with a fuchsia ‘C’ sticker on the door.

Exciting things to do while in Calvia!

THE year 2023 in Calvia is some thing you are going to want to ex perience with various festivals and festivities that are perfect for you to checkout and divulge your self in the Spanish culture while in Calvia.

With festivals like Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastian these festivals will be ones to keep you on your toes and put you in a state of awe when experiencing what they have to offer.

San Antonio is celebrated with eccentric costumes and over a hundred bonfires lit around the villages.

The party continues to the small hours of the morning with the streets filled with music and singing.

Paying homage to Sant Antoni who was visited by the devil in the desert portrayed as a woman and walked across burning embers of a fire as a way of distraction. Festivities begin on Monday January 16.

Sant Sebastian is one of the biggest festivals in Mallorca and

celebrates the patron Saint Sebestian.

The celebrations are celebrated over two weeks and are filled with cultural activities, concerts, fire runs and more! It is really something worth going to see and starts on January 19.

Further on in the year, there will be a riveting cycling challenge taking place, Valentine’s Day, where

love will be in the air and residences will be adorned in red.

The fantastic and colourful Carnival is to take place in February. With other events such as a pottery fair, mountain marathon, sailing competitions, boat fairs, live festivals and agricultural fairs with the best produce of Spain on offer happening all throughout the year, Calvia is THE place to visit.

Divulge yourself in Spanish culture.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Dubai’s trillions

DUBAI has set out its 32 trillion dirham (€8.2 trillion) economic plan and aims to double the size of its economy in the next decade to become one of the ‘top three economic cities around the world,’ Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, tweeted.

Economic sentiment

EUROPEAN COMMISSION data on January 6 showed eurozone economic sentiment has improved for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war. The Commission’s monthly economic sentiment index rose to 95.8 in December from 94.0 in November, the first upward movement after a slide from a record high of 114.0 scaled in February.

Renewable energy

THE European Investment Bank (EIB) and Iberdrola have signed a new agreement to accelerate Spain’s energy transition by developing new renewable energy capacity. The EU bank will provide a €550m green loan for the construction of a portfolio of projects with a total capacity of around 1 800 megawatts (MW).

Euro-flation

A BIT of good news is that Europe ended a bad year for inflation with some relief as price gains eased again. While the cost of living is still painfully high, the slowdown is a sign that the worst might be over for weary consumers.

Ethical investments

TO invest ethically, look for funds with high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, which will not invest your money in harmful sectors. ESG look at the conservation of the natural world and social factors and examine how a company treats people both inside and outside the company.

STAT OF WEEK

Future of payments

PAYTECHS are disrupting the future of payments. The time is ripe for banks to rethink strategies for participating in this complex ­ but opportunisticecosystem, or risk being left behind.

Ernst & Young’s (EY) recent report The Rise of PayTech ­ seven forces shaping the future of payments assesses the level of innovation enabled by PayTechs across the most dynamic areas impacting the sector. These include areas such as open banking, real­time payments, cross­border payments, buy now, pay later (BNPL), digital wallets and super apps, embedded payments and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and digital currencies.

Digital currencies are gaining momentum, rising to the top of the agenda for payments providers seeking regulated alternatives as first industry solutions emerge. The ultimate benefits of digital currencies lie in the instant and atomic settlement,

increased automation, transparency, and efficiency.

Open banking has allowed consumers to be firmly in control of their data, identity, and payments. The practice of securely sharing financial data by connecting merchants and customers directly has created compelling ‘open payments’ or ‘pay by bank’ options.

Elsewhere, digital wallets and super apps are helping to reduce payment transaction fees whilst offering

a single destination for consumers to manage their finances. By leveraging data, they have the potential to fulfil almost any financial, leisure or lifestyle need.

For banks, the shift in payments is both a threat and an opportunity. Banks must continue to embrace digitalisation and transform their current payment models and, by leveraging these forces, they can deliver better, far more efficient and frictionless experiences for their customers.

Climate finance

ACCORDING to the World Economic Forum (WEF), “the climate and biodiversity crises loom large but sadly, so does the gap in global finance. Estimates for the cost of emerging market countries’ adaptation to climate change range from $140 ­ 300B per year by 2030. Not to mention the costs of energy transition and mitigation efforts and the rest of a country’s development agenda.”

So where will this money come from? The WEF say “access to grants and low­cost concessional finance is limited. With rising interest rates in advanced economies and the subsequent ‘risk off’ environment in the international capital markets, emerging market countries that previously had

market access have mainly lost it. Debt burdenswhich include official debt service payments postponed throughout the pandemic ­ are increasingly difficult to refinance and sovereign debt restructuring practices are cumbersome and time­consuming.”

The WEF confirm that: “To solve these two financial challenges ­ climate finance and

sovereign debt ­ we need to find creative, scalable solutions. Failure to do so quickly will create a downward spiral where debt crises undermine the capacity of countries to adapt to climate change, making them less creditworthy and even less able to finance adaptation and mitigation.

“Many developing countries are eager to

consider climate and nature ­ related key performance indicators (KPIs) as part of their debt issuance and debt workout operations. They see the environmental sustainability linkage as enhancing their attractiveness to capital markets, and they see the additional resources accelerating the implementation of agreed environmental goals.”

International borrowing

THE European Commission is empowered by the EU Treaties to borrow from the international capital markets on behalf of the European Union.

It is a well ­ established name in debt securities markets, with a strong track record of successful bond issuances over the past 40 years. All EU­Bond issuances executed by the European Commission are denominated exclusively in euro.

The European Commission uses the proceeds of EUBond issuances to fund EU policy programmes. Landmark policy programmes currently funded by EU­Bonds include the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument of up to around €800 billion in current prices and the Commission’s Macro­Financial Assistance + programme for Ukraine.

EU borrowing is executed using multiple instruments, including EU­Bonds, EU­Bills, and NextGenerationEU Green Bonds.

Help for Scots

SOCIAL SECURITY of Scotland is now actively encouraging people to check they are not missing out on extra money from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The government confirmed that it is highly likely that more people could be eligible for certain benefits, some of which are only available in Scotland.

The benefits, which have been introduced over the past four years, are available to people on low incomes responsible for children under 16, those who need help paying for a funeral, people living with a disability, carers, young people entering the workplace and householders needing help to heat their homes.

Data from Bankrate found that 27 per cent of shoppers will go into debt for holiday or Christmas shopping.

RECENT REPORT: Banks must continue to embrace digitalisation.

Image: NicoElNino/Shutterstock.com

CLIMATE CHANGE: Creative, scalable solutions are necessary across the world.

Image: MUNGKHOOD STUDIO/Shutterstock.com

3I Group 1.390,50 1.391,50 1.371,00 237,97K

Abrdn 193,25 193,50 190,15 411,82K

Admiral Group 2.230,0 2.237,0 2.221,0 26,87K

Anglo American 3.552,0 3.585,0 3.528,0 193,99K

Antofagasta 1.695,50 1.702,50 1.677,50 159,86K

Ashtead Group 5.022,0 5.056,0 5.016,0 35,71K

Associated British Foods 1.765,5 1.774,0 1.762,0 37,58K

AstraZeneca 11.670,0 11.754,0 11.658,0 109,43K

Auto Trader Group Plc 542,60 544,80 539,40 156,85K

Aveva 3.220,0 3.222,0 3.219,0 42,54K

Aviva 459,30 459,70 456,00 279,31K

B&M European Value Retail SA450,60 454,60 448,00 255,27K

BAE Systems 840,40 857,80 839,60 592,52K

Barclays 173,84 174,08 171,88 1,71M

Barratt Developments 434,70 435,60 431,30 138,95K

Berkeley 4.117,0 4.118,0 4.080,5 2,01K

BHP Group Ltd 2.725,00 2.745,50 2.721,50 9,73K

BP 482,55 485,10 477,60 2,81M

British American Tobacco 3.315,5 3.341,5 3.308,3 13,26K

British Land Company 414,10 415,50 410,50 149,86K

BT Group 127,40 130,80 127,35 3,46M

Bunzl 2.906,0 2.927,0 2.904,0 34,87K

Burberry Group 2.216,0 2.221,0 2.198,0 84,25K

Carnival 662,6 671,8 658,4 46,39K

Centrica 92,54 93,12 91,28 720,43K

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.970,0 1.980,9 1.969,5 1,30K

Compass 1.906,50 1.915,50 1.905,00 125,19K

CRH 3.598,5 3.606,5 3.570,0 34,91K

Croda Intl 6.610,0 6.656,0 6.594,0 29,37K

DCC 4.305,0 4.326,5 4.289,2 2,03K

Diageo 3.617,0 3.655,5 3.617,0 183,42K

DS Smith 350,51 351,40 347,70 587,83K

EasyJet 378,30 381,00 373,50 297,30K

Experian 2.868,0 2.877,0 2.862,0 27,55K

Ferguson 11.470,0 11.530,0 11.390,0 78,22K

Flutter Entertainment 11.995,0 12.120,0 11.945,0 31,12K

Fresnillo 951,00 961,80 941,20 43,73K

Glencore 534,80 541,00 531,70 4,85M

GSK plc 1.414,80 1.432,40 1.412,80 68,09K

Halma 2.084,0 2.094,0 2.079,0 31,47K

Hargreaves Lansdown 876,00 877,00 860,80 106,58K

Hikma Pharma 1.681,50 1.690,00 1.674,00 6,74K

HSBC 565,80 566,80 562,40 2,36M

IAG 140,90 141,34 139,54 2,13M

Imperial Brands 2.071,00 2.080,00 2.052,00 255,23K

Informa 639,80 642,80 638,20 98,92K

InterContinental 5.110,0 5.138,0 5.106,0 35,46K

Intermediate Capital 1.217,50 1.221,00 1.203,50 22,87K

Intertek 4.232,0 4.266,0 4.224,0 14,08K

ITV 81,02 81,30 80,10 1,82M

J Sainsbury 244,54 246,20 242,69 109,01K

Johnson Matthey 2.196,0 2.204,0 2.178,0 25,13K

Land Securities 665,60 669,60 660,80 75,96K

Legal & General 262,15 262,70 259,10 520,60K

Lloyds Banking 48,52 48,54 47,99 35,53M

London Stock Exchange 7.236,0 7.290,0 7.200,0 48,45K

Melrose Industries 143,45 143,60 142,20 508,32K

Mondi 1.498,50 1.505,50 1.497,50 48,82K

National Grid 1.050,00 1.054,50 1.047,00 477,69K

NatWest Group 275,60 280,50 274,60 2,48M

Next 6.476,0 6.526,0 6.420,0 19,55K

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

Ocado 725,40 733,80 716,80 342,45K

Persimmon 1.336,5 1.338,5 1.325,0 46,27K

Phoenix 625,00 626,80 624,00 88,45K

Prudential 1.254,50 1.256,00 1.239,50 435,90K

Reckitt Benckiser 5.886,0 5.884,0 5.830,0 116,23K

Relx 2.334,00 2.352,00 2.330,00 160,35K

Rentokil 504,00 506,60 500,80 620,81K

Rightmove 547,40 548,80 540,80 107,61K

Rio Tinto PLC 6.063,0 6.125,0 6.046,0 207,06K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 101,82 103,08 100,98 4,22M

Sage 773,40 775,20 770,20 71,52K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.216,50 1.220,00 1.210,50 3,98K

Schroders 449,3 450,1 444,4 175,22K

Scottish Mortgage 728,91 731,00 725,00 161,28K

Segro 794,20 796,40 787,60 118,67K

Severn Trent 2.772,0 2.796,0 2.772,0 10,06K

Shell 2.376,5 2.387,5 2.360,5 595,75K

Smith & Nephew 1.165,50 1.172,50 1.160,50 204,83K

Smiths Group 1.625,00 1.634,00 1.621,00 25,86K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 10.970,0 10.985,0 10.865,0 7,01K

SSE 1.667,00 1.681,00 1.666,50 300,35K

St. James’s Place 1.156,00 1.159,50 1.147,50 0,83K

Standard Chartered 689,80 693,20 688,00 724,70K

Taylor Wimpey 109,30 109,60 108,00 884,90K

Tesco 242,70 244,20 240,40 920,05K

Tui 147,76 148,95 147,45 785,43K

Unilever 4.170,0 4.202,0 4.160,0 197,63K

United Utilities 1.039,50 1.046,00 1.039,50 40,32K

Vodafone Group PLC 87,77 88,80 87,52 6,10M

Whitbread 2.792,0 2.812,0 2.790,0 22,79K WPP 870,60 873,60 865,60 230,69K

3M 126,72 127,13 2,41M

American Express 150,17 150,43 145,48 2,90M

Amgen 275,20 276,82 269,03 2,89M

Apple 129,62 130,29 124,89 86,76M

Boeing 213,00 213,04 203,55 11,19M

Caterpillar 248,86 249,91 242,24 3,84M

Chevron 176,56 179,39 175,70 7,17M

Cisco 48,32 48,58 47,28 19,35M

Coca-Cola 63,40 63,67 62,58 9,97M

Dow 55,02 55,24 53,32 6,10M

Goldman Sachs 348,08 349,00 340,95 3,09M

Home Depot 317,53 318,85 309,00 4,01M

Honeywell 210,27 211,06 205,87 4,02M

IBM 143,70 144,25 141,58 3,53M

Intel 28,73 28,83 27,38 31,52M

J&J 180,25 180,93 179,39 5,64M

JPMorgan 137,94 138,38 134,49 9,94M

McDonald’s 269,47 269,89 263,39 2,85M

Merck&Co 114,84 115,49 114,05 8,58M

Microsoft 224,93 225,76 219,35 42,92M

Nike 124,53 125,36 121,77 9,32M

Procter&Gamble 153,92 154,46 151,75 7,88M

Salesforce Inc 140,51 141,65 135,55 9,00M

The Travelers 193,87 194,45 189,55 1,28M

UnitedHealth 490,00 492,87 487,54 4,81M

Verizon 42,19 42,58 41,88 25,87M

Visa A 217,75 218,14 213,09 6,83M

Walgreens Boots 36,61 36,74 35,11 10,00M

Walmart 146,78 147,55 144,24 7,07M

Walt Disney 93,92 94,69 91,32 9,78M

World

JinkoSolar

Roivant

Iridium Communications Inc. +12.81% 1.721M

Perseus Mining Limited +10.67% 35,153

Nel ASA +10.38% 16,796

R1 RCM Inc. +10.20% 9.972M Barclays PLC +10.01% 76,788

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AMTD Digital Inc. -23.41% 21.064M

PT Bumi Resources Tbk -16.00% 64,775

XPeng Inc. -15.04% 41.107M

iQIYI, Inc. -14.87% 22.648M

Dave Inc. -13.53% 91,840

Dada Nexus Limited -9.70% 5.397M

Li Auto Inc. -9.16% 14.485M

Trinity Industries, Inc. -8.95% 971,367

NovoCure Limited -8.22% 3.002M

Baxter International Inc. -7.84% 11.099M

Waters Corporation -7.15% 1.27M

BUSINESS EXTRA

Finance fallouts

IN 2022 research from Royal London found that three in five couples have argued about money, with 62 per cent falling out over overspending. A quarter of respondents said they believe their partner is financially irresponsible, and a third admitted to keeping details of their savings and debts a secret.

ISA idea

LUCINDA O’BRIEN , savings expert at money.co. uk has suggested putting money in an ISA to save for the future. She said: “As much as we may try to put it to the back of our minds, money is something that can be a major source of stress, especially in the current economic climate.

Transfer debt

A MONEY saving expert suggests: “A balance transfer credit card lets you shift existing debt to a new card, you still owe the money but it’s interest ­ free for up to 30 months. Aim for the longest zero per cent deal to pay off your debt, then look for the lowest fee.”

Bank of Dad

IN his new memoir entitled ‘Spare’, Prince Harry alleges that his father, King Charles III, told him that the royal family just didn’t have the funds to financially support his wife, Meghan Markle.

According to the Duke of Sussex, the king said he was already having to pay a huge amount to support not only Prince Harry but also to support his eldest son, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton, and family.

“Pa didn’t financially support Willy and me, and our families, out of any largesse,” Harry, 38, claims in his memoir. “That was his job. That was the whole deal.”

E-commerce spending

E­ COMMERCE turnover in Spain increased in the second quarter of 2022 with a year ­ on ­ year growth of 33.1 per cent to a total €18.190 billion, according to the latest e­commerce data available on the CNMCData website.

The activity sectors with the highest revenue were travel agencies, with 10.2 per cent of the total turnover; followed by air transport, with 6.6 per cent, and clothing taking third place with 6.5 per cent. As regards the number of transactions, in the second quarter of 2022 more than 325 million transactions were registered, up 16.4 per cent. Restaurants lead the ranking in terms of sales (7.1 per cent).

In terms of geographical segmentation, 46.8 per cent of the revenue from the second quarter

of 2022 was to Spain. The remaining 53.2 per cent corresponds to purchases originating

Sustainable banking

SANTANDER has ranked among the world’s most sustainable banks in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2022 and among the top three in Europe.

The bank scored 83 points out of 100, placing it in the 98th percentile of all banks reviewed.

Santander has been featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past 22 years.

The bank scored well in every category: economic (86), environmental (76) and social (83). It also highlighted areas where the bank has improved, such as financial inclusion, environmental and social reporting, climate strategy, privacy protection and customer relationship management.

The group ended the first half of the year as the world’s leader in renewable energy finance, with over €2.4 billion in 33 funding transactions and a

worldwide market share of 6.4 per cent, according to Infralogic’s ranking. In the past decade, Santander has been a leading bank in renewable energy finance, ranking among the top three in the world in the number of transactions and the top five in funding volume.

In supporting the fight against climate change and the green transition, Santander continues to make progress on its goal to reach net zero carbon emissions group ­ wide by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. In 2022, Santander outlined three new interim targets to decarbonise its portfolios by 2030: a 29 per cent reduction in absolute emissions financed in the energy sector; a 33 per cent reduction in emissions intensity in the aviation sector; and a 32 per cent reduction in emissions intensity in the steel sector.

Image: Pop Tika/Shutterstock.com

what is purchased in Spain from foreign locations and what is purchased from Spain to foreign locations) shows a deficit of €7.046 billion.

The turnover of transactions originating in Spain that were sent to foreign locations totalled €9.683 billion, up 20.9 per cent on the figure from the second quarter of the previous year. A total of 92.3 per cent of purchases from Spain with destinations in foreign locations was sent to businesses within the EU.

Meanwhile, transactions from foreign locations to Spain have reached a turnover of €2,638 million, up 106.1 per cent on the figure from the second quarter of the previous year. Some 61.3 per cent of purchases from foreign locations originated in countries within the EU.

Student financing

WITH the aim of improving access to education, the European Investment Bank (EIB) recently commissioned a study on student finance.

Technopolis, the consultancy that is part of the consortium carrying out the study said more and more students need to finance their studies.

“Recognising the need to improve the financing gap experienced by higher education students that is preventing them from access to education and training, the EIB has asked the consortium to analyse ways to incentivise more financial or non­financial institutions to provide financial solutions for students,” Technopolis confirmed.

The consultancy said the study will map out the student financing market in EU member states and compare it with other countries.

Irish inflation

INFLATION is “at or close to the peak,” confirmed the Irish Finance Minister, Michael McGrath, on Wednesday, January 4.

“We do think that we are at or close to the peak at this point and that we will begin to see a moderation of inflation, particularly across the second quarter and beyond,” he added.

However, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe sounded a note of caution: “While the change in inflation is something that is to be welcomed and to be acknowledged, I think it’s too early to be able to conclude yet that it’s the sign of a trend that we can expect to continue across all of next year.”

in Spain carried out through foreign locations. The external balance (the difference between

TURNOVER INCREASED: Activity sectors including travel saw highest rise.

Making progress towards goal.

Access to education.

Image: Krisana Antharith/Shutterstock.com Image: giuseppelombardo/Shutterstock.com

I DUNNO, perhaps it is me. Of course I sympathise with the victims of accidents in the home. Of course I find the initial results of many fire hazard investigations extremely worrying.

What I can’t get my head round is all those who come out of the woodwork and use these tragedies to whine about the conditions they all ‘have’ to live in. Among others, those who reside in areas resembling the notorious Broadwater Estate are a case in point.

“Why should we have to put up with these awful slum conditions?” they moan. Why doesn’t the government (natch!) do something about it? Well just a minute, ill­advised as this high rise accommodation may have been, they were initially built in good faith.

The rules governing public buildings were and are, far more stringent than private projects. None of them began their existence as slum dwellings. None of them started out covered in graffiti, with lift shafts stinking of urine, or knee high in rubbish, used condoms and drug paraphernalia.

Flats originally built to accommodate families of four to six persons were never meant to cope with benefit scroungers boasting 10 or 15 offsprings, or jam packed with scores of ‘sub lets’.

All these conditions are brought on by those who move into them. Human beings create the environments they reside

In good faith

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

in. It’s time many of these residents started to get their own houses in order, rather than blaming all and sundry for their woes. Stop thinking about their so called ‘rights’ and start concentrating more on their own wrongs would be a start.

All over the UK there are scores of high rise estates, which are proudly and properly run by local councils and caring tenants. With their carefully tended gardens, playgrounds for the children and hardworking responsible residents, they are wonderful examples of how decent human beings, however diverse their cultures and backgrounds, can live in perfectly harmonious and orderly surroundings.

I suggest those who feel all the blame for their ‘misfortunes’ lay outside their own walls, either shape up or ship out. They are a drain on resources, a threat to democracy and utterly useless contribu­

tors toward any future of the country that nurtures them.

I do feel sorry for the Yemenis. I always found them an extremely happy and caring people. I shall never forget their kindness when I found myself hopelessly stranded in the desert. Believe me, if I’d also known the steel runway reinforcing I helped deliver to that secret Saudi air base would one day be used to launch death and destruction among them, I would have ‘accidently’ allowed my truck to topple off that extremely precarious mountain pass! (It’s in the book!)

Let’s hope that this year peace and tranquility will once again prevail for these likeable people; they’ve suffered long enough.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Fri. 1pm till 4.

ROYAL MESS OUR VIEW

PRINCE HARRY has been at it again, giving in­depth detail about his family first in an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby and then with the release of his memoir ‘Spare’ on Tuesday, January 10.

For

Regardless of whether you agree with the principle of Harry and his wife’s original decision to step back from royal life or not, the result of this continued public airing of dirty laundry is an ongoing backlash ­ particularly in the UK ­ that cannot possibly be what anyone would want. This leads to the obvious question then, “what are they actually trying to achieve here?” If what the couple wanted was a chance to make tens of millions and to get off their chests their perceived grievances then job done. But what they are actually seeking seems to go further than this; rather than simply air their version of events, they are giving the impression of wanting the public on their side to acknowledge the harms they feel have been done to them. Is the best way to achieve this by publicly sharing personal family information when you know your counterparts do not have the same privilege though? Probably not. Equally, sharing information about your family in the weeks and months surrounding the deaths of the two most respected people at the top of it ­ The Queen and Prince Philip ­ was probably also very badly judged.

On the positive side though, what the Tom Bradby interview represents was at least a small win for journalism. In contrast to the couple’s Oprah interview two years earlier, this one did at least ask some of the harder questions of Harry the public must have been wanting to know the answers to. In increasingly uncertain times, that at least is something,

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

REGIFTING XMAS PRESENTS

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

FALSE teeth, a scorpion in formaldehyde and a lamb castrating tool were among the weirdest items dropped in a charity’s donation boxes last year.

Barnardo’s revealed a list of bizarre items left by donors at its 620 UK stores in an appeal for people to bestow their unwanted Christmas gifts.

Jaws dropped when staff in South Yorkshire were given a pot containing nine human molars and a bag of infant clothes containing a baby’s dried umbilical cord and belly clip.

The false teeth were inside a handbag donated to the charity’s Glasgow store, while the bottled scorpion has since been passed on to a local university by Barnardo workers in St Andrews.

Staff in Staffordshire were amused by a message accompanying a pair of men’s shorts which read: “Wear these at your leisure, wear with pride and pleasure, and keep them safe to treasure. Geoff. X.”

Other quirky deliveries included a dead bird and a hamster cage still containing its deceased former occupant.

According to Barnardo’s, “Most of us have received Christmas presents that may be of good quality and costly, but just aren’t suitable for us.”

They might have added: “And not suitable for regifting Xmas 2023 either.”

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

Providing support

THE British Benevolent Fund provides financial assistance for British nationals in distress.

Some of the applications come from people living in extreme destitution ­ many times aggravated by poor and deteriorating health.

One such case was brought to our attention by a concerned neighbour who lived in the rural hills near Granada.

A woman in her mid­60s who had suffered a stroke and was paralysed down one half of her body, had facial paralysis on the other and whose medical report summarised that she was extremely dependent and needed 24­hour home assistance.

She lived alone off a small UK pension in a modest rented property in a small and isolated village.

Despite living in Spain for many years she did not have residency and she would have great difficulty accessing the necessary health and welfare support that she would require to have any chance of

managing her life ­ in addition to the enormous practical difficulties that she now faced.

The BBF was able to liaise with the Consulate to explore any possible repatriation to the UK so she would be able to receive the support she needed.

However, repatriation of a vulnerable person is a challenging process at the best of times ­ in the case of bed ridden and extremely ill people this challenge is multiplied many times over.

The good news was that the Consulate was able to make arrangements for her access to UK health support ­ if only we could get her there.

Thankfully with partners from https://www.supportin

spain.info/ we were able to do this, and we are indebted to the medical volunteers who gave up their time to help this lady, who now receives round the clock residential care in the UK.

The role of the BBF was a simple one ­ to fund her repatriation ­ but it would not have been possible without the donations we need in order to do this.

We support many cases such as this throughout the year ­ please help us to help those who have no other recourse. Olaf.clayton@british benevolentfund.org

Quitting time

SALLY UNDERWOOD POLITICAL ANIMAL

THE news that

environmental policies was clearly aimed as an indictment on the current government. But it also shines a spotlight on the once popular notion of being a card­carrying member of a political party

While for years, being a member of a political party was a way of publiclyand often proudly ­ showing allegiance to a particular party, rates of membership card ownership declined roughly as rapidly as that of blockbuster cards until 2013 when figures seemingly bottomed out at just 0.8 per cent of the electorate.

In a sign of some amount of increased political activism, this rate now stands at 1.5 per cent but the figures are still far from the 4 per cent of the

electorate who were card ­ carriers in 1983.

What does this decline in membership say about the current state of politics? Are we more cynical? Perhaps in a world where we can switch our banking, house or car insurance with the click of a comparison site button we’re just no longer used to committing to ideas like our political ideologies longterm? Or are we just disillusioned?

This also begs the question, what’s the alternative when it comes to funding politicians? Where campaign fundraising on a constituency level is often done by the sort of cheese and wine evenings you would expect from local politics, a drop in membership funding leaves a shortfall that now seems to be picked up by an array of billionaires with one company, MPM Connect Ltd now apparently the third largest donor to individual politicians.

If the alternative to anonymous companies funding our politics beyond the scene is paying for political party membership, I’d encourage us all to sign up.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

NoraJohnson’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Nora’s latest thriller.

former MP for Devizes, Claire Perry, has torn up her Conserva

tive membership card over the party’s

DIVERSITY AND FUN

I LOVE reading the Euro Weekly every week. It always has such a diverse amount of content, and it always gives me ideas on what to do with the kids during the week, I never knew there was a parade for the Three Kings! The kids really enjoyed it and we collected bags of sweets, it was so nice to see the community come together and do something nice.

Thank you, Euro Weekly News

Woof woof

IT’S so great to see so many people come together and collect toys for children in need, especially to children that really need them. I hope they all enjoyed their gifts. It was so thoughtful. The front page made me giggle seeing grown men with beards driving around with dog teddy bears. Fair play boys!

Bus lanes!

HOW dare Nottingham fine their own city and people such money, people are going through enough these days to be fined. I wouldn’t be surprised if the signing is inadequate! All of them these days tend to be. I just want to drive around in peace and not have to worry about constant fines. Don’t even get me started on cycle lanes.

Disgruntled

British Benevolent Fund

IT is so eye opening seeing these stories every week on expatriates who have unfortunately not been able to come to Spain and live their dream just like they probably thought they would have when they were back home in the UK. Such tremendous work done by the organisation and I have been forwarding these articles to everyone I know at home who is thinking about coming to live in Spain.

Janice Smith

Fighting festive flab

My festive flab I believe will be going nowhere this January. However, I will be keeping it in mind for February after the hubby gets me a great deal of chocolates (fingers crossed). I will keep you up to date, these lunges and oblique climbers seem quite intense, but I am excited to give them a go, I don’t think I’ll be able to do the cycling sit ups they have in mind. I haven’t thrown my leg over a bike since I was a young lass.

With love, Gwen

Leapy Lee

I DON’T usually agree with Leapy Lee, however, the beginning of last week’s column made sense. The stress that the NHS are under now is gastronomical and the treatment of Britons in the UK when it comes to living conditions is becoming horrendous. Especially that of single mothers, more needs to be done for them and their children.

Mould is unsafe and can cause long term problems and trouble to anyone and the fact that people are living in these conditions in the 21st century and in a country that is labelled as ‘one of the best’ in the world is outrageous. I don’t know who it is that can help us governmentally wise, I won’t be sharing that opinion in this letter. But more does need to be done to help those who need health care and safe and secure housing. The UK needs to do better, we shouldn’t have to rely on food banks to feed the population. The government needs to do more with their big pay checks.

Patricia Gordon

Furry friends

THE articles based on our furry friends always bring a smile to my face and I can’t wait for next week’s addition, I have an Akita mixed with a Staffie and he is my pride and joy. The pictures always make my day and bring a smile to my face.

If you can keep on doing them do! and insert more! I think if more people saw and spent time with animals that they would be more relaxed and considerate towards others. I won’t get into the debate of what is better, cats or dogs. But dogs are better!

Rebecca D

Coming together

IT is so nice to see all the events on and organised every week for those who are in need. The generosity of others is nice to see, especially with the current circumstances of the world right now.

The event in Mijas for all the children was so sweet and it warmed my heart, especially everything those children have had to go through. They deserved that experience and deserve more things like that. Especially when it is so easy to be mean in today’s society.

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.

Graham West

Sally West

FUN TIME: It’s so nice to see children enjoying themselves.

Credit: altanaka/Shutterstock.com

HAVING a pet can sometimes put financial pressure on our household budgets, particularly as inflation and the cost of living have increased during the last year. Today, we’re sharing four tips to help you save money on pet care without neglecting your pet’s needs.

1. Work out the essentials

The first step towards saving money on pet care is deciding what is actually necessary for their daily lives. Ensuring your pet is healthy, well ­ fed and gets enough exercise should be your financial priorities, and should take precedence over buying new accessories or

Saving the pennies

additional grooming.

2. Take preventative measures

Neglecting a pet’s health is not only abusive, it can also be more costly in the long run. Instead, take care of your pet’s health by making sure they eat a substantial, healthy diet containing all the necessary nutrients for their growth and development. This will help to prevent against worrying health concerns and

costly vet bills.

3. Shop around Don’t just accept the first price you see for your pet’s favourite food products. Instead, compare by visiting different pet shops or looking online for the best deals, and you could save money on pet essentials like food and medications. It can also be worth checking out the ingredients in options by competitor brands, as ingredients are often similar.

Photo: NikomMaelao Production / shutterstock.com

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Aston Villa knocked out

ASTON VILLA have been stunned at home by League Two side Stevenage, falling to a 2­1 defeat.

Another massive upset occurred in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday evening, January 8.

League Two side Stevenage travelled to the formidable ground of Villa Park to take on Aston Villa and ran out 2­1 winners despite being sepa­

rated by 59 places in the football league.

This follows another cup up­

set where Newcastle United were beaten by League One side Sheffield Wednesday on

A sad day for English rugby

DAVID DUCKHAM MBE, arguably one of the greatest rugby union players of all time, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, at the age of 76. The legendary England winger was a member of the successful British & Irish Lions team that toured New Zealand in 1971.

At club level he represented Coventry from 1967 to 1979, making his England debut against Ireland in 1969. Originally playing as a centre, Duckham was converted to a winger at international level, going on to be capped 36 times by his country, scoring 10 tries. His final match for England was at Murrayfield in 1976 against Scotland.

In 1973 Duckham was the only Englishman to be a part of the Barbarians side that defeated the mighty All Blacks 23–11 at Cardiff Arms Park. During the first half, the rapid winger made a run that has become part of rugby folklore. At one point, his change of direction was so quick even the cameraman momentarily lost sight of him.

“Coventry Rugby is incredibly sad to learn that David Duckham has died. Donned as arguably the ‘greatest’ ever Coventry player, our thoughts go out to David’s family at this difficult time,” said a tweet from Coventry Rugby.

Saturday. An awful statistic for the Midlands club is that this is now the eighth consecutive season that they have been dumped out of the competition in the third round.

Villa turned in what can only be described as a very average performance. They took the lead after 33 minutes when Morgan Sanson netted for the home side.

Everything pointed to Villa holding on to their slender lead until a red card was shown to Leander Dendoncker in the 85th minute. He hauled down Dean Campbell after being dispossessed inside the box. It took a VAR decision to confirm the penalty, but substitute Jamie Reid calmly slotted the equaliser home on 88 minutes.

A nervous finale was set up and incredibly, from a corner, Dean Campbell fired the ball into the net beyond Robin Olsen in the 91st minute to give Stevenage the win. Their prize is a fourth­round clash away to Stoke City.

Brazilian surfing legend dies

THE Brazilian legend, 47­year­old Marcio Freire was riding the famous giant waves in Nazare on the coast of Portugal when he suffered a heart attack and died on Thursday, January 5.

He was tackling the famous breakers on the Portuguese coast in the town and municipality of Nazare, located in the Oeste region. “A 47­year­old man of Brazilian nationality died this afternoon after falling while practising surfing in Praia do Norte,” read a statement released by the National Maritime Authority (AMN).

It continued: “The rescuers found the victim was in cardiorespiratory arrest and immediately starting resuscitation manoeuvres on the sand. After several attempts, it was not possible to reverse the situation,” as reported by a news outlet. Nazare is world famous for its monumental waves. Sebastian Steudtner, a German surfer, entered the Guinness Book of World Records after riding a wave there on October 29, 2020. The monster breaker was measured at 26,21 metres (86 feet) tall, making it officially the biggest wave ever surfed.

In 2016, Freire was immortalised in the surfing documentary titled ‘Mad Dogs’. It followed the activity of three Brazilian surfers who travelled to Hawaii in an attempt to conquer a famous massive wave known locally as ‘Jaws’.

The surfing world has since paid tribute to him.

VILLA PARK: Stevenage ran out 2-1 winners.

Credit: Gogle maps - Ceri Miles

Famous for ridiing the waves.

Gareth Bale retires New Portugal coach

WELSH team captain Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from football.

The Wales football captain Gareth Bale announced his decision to retire at the age of 33, from international as well as club football.

Football legend Gareth Bale took to social media and announced his decision to retire from professional football.

According to a post made by the Welsh player on Twitter, he said “After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.”

The post further adds, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love.

“It (football) has truly given me some of the best moments of my life.

“The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”

Considered as one of the greatest football players to ever come out of Wales, Bale was born in the capital Cardiff and started his football career at Southhampton at the age of 16.

His talent eventually led him to be a part of Tottenham Hotspur and helped Real Madrid win five champions league titles.

Bale later moved to the US in June 2022 to play for the Los Angeles Football Club, after his nine­year­old contract at Real Madrid expired.

PORTUGAL has officially announced former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez as their new international football coach. Roberto Martinez has been officially announced on Monday, January 9, as the new coach of Portugal’s national men’s team. After being fired as manager of Belgium following the Qatar World Cup, Martinez landed himself a top job almost instantly, signing a deal until 2026.

He replaces 68­year­old Fernando Santos, who was also relieved of his position after the World Cup campaign steering them to victory in the 2016 Euros. Martinez previously managed Wigan and Everton before spending six years as the boss of Belgium. Leaving behind a

selection of players that was dubbed Bel gium’s ‘golden era’, Martinez now inherits an abundance of Portuguese talent. The 49 old Spaniard now faces the monumental task of making a decision about the international future of Cristiano Ronaldo. “I’m very happy to be here, I’m delighted to be able to represent one of the most talented teams in the world.” he said as he was unveiled at a press conference.

On the subject of Ronaldo, the new coach offered: “Football decisions have to be

taken on the pitch. I’m not a coach that makes decisions ­

ing point is to get in touch with all the players, the list of 26 from the World Cup, and Cristiano Ronaldo is on that

VICTORIA LEE, a rising star in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has tragically passed away aged just 18. The young fighter’s death was confirmed by her older sister Angela, who said in an Instagram post that Victoria died on December 26. No cause of death was revealed.

Angela’s post read: “On December 26, 2022, our family experienced something no family should ever have to go through… It is incredibly difficult to say this… Our Victoria passed away.”

MMA star passes at age 18

“She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then. We miss her. More than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same,” she added.

As reported by the Bleacher Report, Victoria first burst onto the MMA scene at the age of 16 when she signed up in February 2021. She had an undefeated

record of three wins in three fights with the MMA promotion company ‘ONE’. Victoria was scheduled to appear in her fourth fight for ‘ONE’ on January 13. According to Yahoo! Sports, it was being broadcast through Prime Video 6.

Competing as an amateur at the junior level, Victoria had already made a name for herself by becoming the junior world

champion in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). She was also a Hawaii state wrestling champion and won the Hawaiian pankration junior world championship twice.

Her sister Angela is the atomweight champion with ‘ONE’, while her brother Christian, during 2022, also picked up both the lightweight and welterweight titles.

A celebration of Victoria’s life is being planned for January 22, after which she will be buried.

Roberto Martinez is moving to Portugal as coach.

Image: Portugal FC/Twitter.com