Axarquia 19 • 25 January 2023 Issue 1959

THE Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE) has recognised the impressive Nerja Caves and awarded them the coveted ‘Q’ Award which is due to be collected at the award event, Q Night, on Thursday, January 19.

ICTE is the body responsible for assessing the quality of tourism establishments and is a private entity, independent and acknowledged throughout Spain.

The ‘Q’ for tourism quality is a renowned Spanish brand aimed at the voluntary certification of tourist services. An organisation obtains the ‘Q’ for tourism quality when it complies with the technical requirements established in its corresponding standard.

It brings prestige, uniqueness, reliability and accuracy to the tourism establishments that have obtained it

as well as promotion through the Secretary of State for Tourism and the regional governments in Spain.

To obtain it, it is necessary

to implement a management system aimed at providing customer service and continuous improvement.

town of Nerja in the Province of Malaga. Stretching for almost five kilometres, the caverns are one of Spain’s major tourist attractions.

30,000 years

FROM cave paintings to contemporary works, the museum of Nerja has magically managed to condense 30,000 years of art into one exhibition.

With this new exhibition, Nerja represents a timeline of art that begins 30,000 years ago, with the oldest cave paintings in the famous local caves, up to the contemporary compositions of Simon Zabell, which he is presenting individually for the first time.

In total, there will be nine paintings, five sculptures and various musical themes which can be seen in the Nerja museum until March 12 from 10.00am until 4.00pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

By Lucy Chamberlaine

LAST week, Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta de Andalucia, visited the site of a new municipal health centre in Nerja, which was finally granted the green light to begin building in December after a 15­year wait.

THE BEST FINANCE NEWS ON PAGES 12 ­ 16 Image: GAS-Photo / Shutterstock.com WINNERS Site for Nerja’s new health centre.

Moreno accompanied Nerja mayor Jose Alberto Armijo to a meeting with the architect in charge of drafting the project to examine the features of the future health centre, which will have a surface area of 4,520 square metres.

There will also be five multi ­ purpose rooms, five paediatric consulting rooms, minor surgery and dental rooms, health education,

physiotherapy, electrotherapy, two rehabilitation consultation rooms, radiography, and a critical care and emergency department.

The ambitious project was put out to tender in December, with a

budget of €9.4 million and a completion date of 20 months.

In a statement, the mayor said, “We are very happy that the Junta de Andalucia has finally approved this important project for Nerja.”

Big screen

NERJA has been lighting up the big screens throughout Madrid to coincide with the International Tourism Fair (FITFUR) which is taking place in the Spanish capital from Wednesday, January 18, until Sunday, January 22.

The Nerja Town Council is showcasing itself at the 2023 FITFUR event with the ‘Nerja + Sustainable’ campaign. The campaign includes the presentation of the Nerja cycle tourism destination project as well as projects aimed at improving natural spaces.

In addition, the presentation of sever­

TUNEFUL notes rang in Almuñecar on Saturday, January 14 with a one­of­a­kind Downton Abbey concert at the Auditorio Martín Recuerda in the Casa de La Cultura.

The concert, which was organised by the local council and musicians from the Ancora Ensemble, took a delighted audience on a musical journey across the UK in the early 20th century.

From the cold of the Scottish highlands to the welcoming Yorkshire estate and rav­

al routes will be shown to visitors at the exhibition, among which the Verano Azul one stands out, through an augmented reality application.

The 2022 FITFUR exceeded all expectations with a total of 111,193 attendees.

The fair was attended by 600 exhibitors and official representatives from 70 countries (including tourism ministers from 21 countries) and it is estimated that the number of arrivals at FITUR has generated an impact on the Madrid economy of more than €150

million, confirming its place as the second most important tourism fair in the world.

Downton Abbey dazzle

ishing beaches of Brancaster, the sensational performance took listeners on a journey through the TV series’ melodical soundtrack.

A trio of local musical talents took charge of the evening with Rafael Lamas directing, Pedro Hernández’s arrangements and J L de Miguel’s artistic direction. The musicians from Spain

created the incredible show to bring a classic British television series to new horizons.

The live performance was based on the masterpiece created for the popular British television series, composed by John Lunn.

The music is an integral part of the series, which chronicles the fortunes of the Crawley family, a fiction­

al British aristocratic family from 1912 to 1926.

Touring Picasso exhibition

THIS year marks 50 years since the death of Pablo Picasso, one of the nation’s most iconic artists. The art community across the world is celebrating the revolutionary artist’s legacy and Axarquia, near to Picasso’s birthplace are set to join in the action.

Two towns in Axarquia, Rincon de La Victoria and Velez­Malaga will host an exhibition, ‘Y Picasso Recordaba el flamenco’ curated by La Térmica art collective. The exhibition will focus on Picasso’s roots in his birthplace in the south of Spain, surrounded by traditional Spanish influences like flamenco.

Twenty drawings by artist, Emmanuel Lafont will feature in the exhibition, which were inspired by flamenco writer, Francis Mármol. Other displays will cover Picasso’s relationship with the traditional art form.

The exhibition is the first time La Térmica have held exhibitions outside of their headquarters in Malaga City centre, so it is likely to be met with a huge response.

The exhibition is in Rincon de La Victoria on Friday, May 5 and Velez­Malaga on Tuesday, June 20.

NERJA: On show in Madrid.

Image: Nerja City Council

NIBS EXTRA

Foodbank flourishes

NERJA SOLIDARIA food bank got off to a successful start in 2023 with donations from shoppers in Carrefour Express as well as local businesses including Nybakat Swedish Bakery and Dulce Casa café which will help in feeding the local community.

Rescue relief

MOUNTAIN rescue experts saved a couple who were stranded in Canillas de Aceituno in north Axarquia. The couple were displaying signs of hypothermia when they were rescued at around 4am on Sunday January 15 by a dedicated team.

Masks back

THE Junta de Andalucia has recommended the use of masks once again in crowded indoor spaces. On Tuesday, January 17, the Andalucia government also advised those infected with Covid to wear a mask, as well as recommending hand washing and other preventative measures after a rise in cases.

Windy weather

THE Spanish national weather agency, Aemet released warnings at the beginning of the week for windy weather along Axarquia’s coast. Despite warnings for high winds and strong waves, the region recorded some of the highest temperatures in Spain.

Coasting along

THE Nerja and Torrox Coasters cycling group got back into the saddle on their first ride back of 2023. Eleven riders took on a mountainous circuit covering picturesque but tough climbs before enjoying some well­deserved refreshments back in Torrox.

Summer shade

ALMUÑECAR Council got to work on a maintenance project to keep the hundredyear­old plane trees on Avenida Costa del Sol in top shape. The trees provide vital shade during summer.

AXARQUIA’S tourism industry is set to tap into new markets with the Innova Experiencia Andalusí project, which will also bring the region’s extensive history closer to the public.

Regional authorities launched the Innova Experiencia Andalusí project on Wednesday, January 18. The project will put Axarquía on the map as an integral destination for cultural and historical interest, by showcasing the history of the region from Roman rule to the Moorish civilisation and Christian conquest.

The cultural programme is a break away from the traditional focus of the local tourism industry on sun, sea and sand tourism, culinary

Cultural creation

umentary series.

The regional government has also designed the programme to appeal to a new booming market, tourism from Arab countries. Destinations selected in the programme will be suitable for Muslim travellers, with halal food options.

Dutch delight

AXARQUIA impressed at one of the biggest tourism fairs for the sector which was held in the Netherlands over the last week.

Representatives from Axarquia regional tourism agency, APTA arrived in Utrecht on Thursday, January 15, for the Vakantiebeurs Fair.

tourism and more recently, environmental tourism.

The programme will consist

Teeing off

MORE than 140 golfers gathered in Rincon de La Victoria for the National Congress of Greenkeepers from Norway. The meet saw golfers travel to the town for its pleasant climate which lasted a week from Saturday, January 14.

Golf lovers put their skills to the test on the green at Añoreta Resort for the competition which is one of the most important golfing conventions at the European level. Staff and local authorities gave the golfers a warm welcome and invited them to get to know the town better.

The event will project the town onto the international stage as a huge media team has been following the golf action as well as showing off some of the natural environment. Off the green, golfers also got stuck into a vibrant programme of workshops and networking.

This year’s event was the first time that the town in Axarquia hosted the competition with town mayor, Francisco Salado expressed his excitement for the event, “Sports tourism is one of our biggest focuses at the moment as we fight to overcome dependence on one tourism season for income.”

of a national network of selected destinations and activities of cultural interest, a doc­

The region’s unique links to the Moorish civilisation make it the perfect destination for travellers coming from the Arab market interested in cultural parallels between their own countries.

A classy touch

AN elegant street mural arrived in La Herradura last week, combining historical styles with modern art. The mural which depicts a traditional scene arrived in the town on Wednesday, January 11.

The artwork was commissioned by La Herradura Council to get locals and visitors into the streets in the town and discovering more about traditional village life in the south of Andalucia.

The first mural was unveiled by the deputy mayor of La Herradura, Daniel Barbero, who announced that another mural is underway, but will remain a surprise. The mural dis ­

Lifeguarding lessons

WITH the current chilly weather, the summer might feel like a long time away. But Torrox is already making preparations for the town’s busiest season with a lifeguarding course organised for February.

This training programme will be the 16th edition offered by the council to train interested young people as lifeguards. Training sessions will begin on Friday, February 10 and last throughout the month with 11 in­person training days and online sessions, mainly on weekends.

The programme provides complete emergency response training for participants, preparing them for lifeguard positions on busy beaches.

The course, offered by Ágata Formación is one of the most comprehensive options available, participants will receive three qualifications each.

Local mayor, José Manuel Fernández explained, “We organise this training programme every year to offer young people a qualification that can help them to find a job as lifeguards are always in high demand during the summer.”

The course costs €300 and includes all training days and materials. Interested participants can sign up in person at the Torrox’s Department for Sports, by emailing deportes@torrox.es or by calling 606 261 364

plays a traditional loading process which was completed by fishermen in the town and is located on Cuesta Peralta street.

Barbero explained, “We want to keep tourism going in the heart of La Herradura throughout the whole year.” The council are committed to keeping the old town looking its best and are adding stylish touches such as this mural to attract more interest from visitors and residents.

Other design touches that have been added in recent weeks include flower pots which will add a pop of colour to the town’s striking white ­ washed streets.

A mainly Dutch audience of tourists and tourism agencies were enchanted by the delicious regional gastronomy, unspoiled beaches, luxury accommodation, and exciting activities on offer in the region.

APTA created four accessible tourist information displays at the fair including leaflets and brochures in Dutch, which were received with excitement by Dutch people who are starting to plan spring and summer getaways.

APTA representatives also got the opportunity to network with other leading groups in the tourism industry, which will help to create new tailored experiences and work with the interests of Dutch tourists.

Authorities hope that success at the fair will translate to a prosperous year for tourism in the region after two years of repeated setbacks due to the pandemic.

Axarquia is set to join a national network of destinations of cultural significance, attracting new markets.

Photo credit: Mancomunidad de Axarquía

First 2023 road trip

LUX MUNDI Ecumenical Group are set for a blessed year ahead with plenty of prayerful events and social activities planned, including the group’s first excursion of the year.

The organisation are headed to the Costa del Sol’s haven of glamour and luxury, Puerto Banus for a social visit on Thursday, January 26. There will be time to explore the harbour where some of the upper echelons of society keep their yachts including several royal families and some of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

Afterwards, the group will head to La Cañada shopping centre to pick up some lunch and refreshments and take advantage of the winter sales. Tickets cost €16 for members and €18 for nonmembers including a 9am coach pickup from Torre del Mar available by calling 952 543 334 or emailing: luxmundi@luxmundi.org

Theatre treat

THEATRE lovers in Almuñecar are in for a treat with an extravaganza of stage shows with the 12th Golden Age Theatre Exhibition, nicknamed ‘Trópico de Europa’. A whole host of plays will come to the Casa de la Cultura between Saturday, February 25 and 28.

The majority of the performances are set to be per ­

formed in Spanish, but there will be an English production entitled ‘Shakespeare and Friends’, directed by Denis Rafter which will take place on Tuesday, February 28 at 5pm.

Rafter’s Shakespeare piece is one of the highlights of the 2023 programme. Rafter has been named as one of the greatest actors and directors in Spain and brings a multitude of theatrical experience to the table, having staged plays in Spain since the 1980s.

Tickets for the shows start from €3 and cost up to €30. They are available for purchase from the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñécar or online at: https://entradium.com/

Free tickets

NERJA Town Council is offering free tickets for contemporary musical performances whilst they hold their first Conference on Contemporary Music from January 27 until February 4.

The six free ­ admission performances will take place in the Villa de Nerja Cultural Centre and in the Museum.

Thecouncillor for Culture, Gema Laguna, said: “These are pioneering days in Nerja, which will form part of the representations of current art in Andalucia.

“We want to create a new space for the dissemination and promotion of contemporary music, supporting the premiere of works and interpretations of regional and national musicians.”

The director of the Nerja Museum, Juan Bautista Salado, has highlighted the role that the museum is making for contemporary art and

music and confirmed: “We are very lucky to have first ­ rate musicians at a national level who reside in Nerja and have contributed to the celebrations of the event.

“We are very happy to continue leading innovative proposals together with the Nerja Town Council,” he added.

For more information or to reserve a ticket email: museodenerja@ cuevadenerja.es

Planting progress

THE La Viñuela recreational space is closer than ever as a major planting project got underway on Wednesday, January 17. A whopping 42,000 trees are being planted in the park, around the reservoir in preparation for its reopening to the public.

Authorities visited the Vivero Provincial nursery near to Velez ­ Malaga, where most of the plants will come from, to ensure they are native species that will naturally flourish in the park.

Among the plants chosen are juniper and broom shrubs, fragrant aromatic plants like lavender, rosemary and thyme, meaning the park will be any nature lover’s dream. Some 40,000 of these smaller plants will be planted over the next two months as well as 2,000 larger trees such as ash and poplar.

Construction is also set to get underway on a 24 kilometre cycle path and improvements to existing pathways to boost leisure opportunities.

The regional government pledged a massive investment of €4.5 million in the project.

Almuñecar is gearing up to host a programme of spectacular theatre shows at the end of February, including a Shakespeare piece.

Photo credit: Tomasz Czajkowski / shutterstock.com

Village in Galicia on sale

AS featured on the Idealista portal, an entire village complex has gone on sale in Galicia, in northern Spain, for less than the price of a regular house in Madrid or Barcelona.

As a result, three houses that were built more than a century ago in the town of Trabada, belonging to the Mariña Oriental region of Lugo, can be purchased for just €160,000.

The largest of the three properties in this tiny village has a total area of 300m². Next comes the home with 280m², and finally, the third property has 140m².

Trabada is located very close to the iconic Camino de Santiago, and is not far from the provincial border between Lugo and the Principality of Asturias. It is also close to the coast

and numerous touristic places such as Playa de las Catedrales.

In addition to the three houses, the complex contains a 25,000m² plot that can be segregated. Other features of the village include its two 100­year­old granaries, a fountain, a cellar, a stable and a stone oven.

Spain’s food markets tops

EXPLORING local cuisines is one of the most incredible ways to understand different cultures.

This is why local food markets in Europe are always some of the best places to include in itineraries, as they give an opportunity for travellers to experience hundreds of fresh products, local delicacies as well as exotic ingredients.

With so many incredible op­

tions to choose from, a new list by Musement has ranked 50 of the most popular markets photographed, and posted on Instagram, across Europe.

Two Spanish markets have made it to the top of the list. La Boqueria, Barcelona, with the second highest mention. This market is one of the most pop­

ular attractions in the city. It has over 300 stalls with incredible colours, exotic smells and great food.

San Miguel Market in Madrid, took the seventh place in the rankings. Known as an iconic gastronomic market, over 10 million people visit this place every year.

MOVING to another country requires some patience and agility. Major adjustments. And to grease the skids of that adjustment, finding service providers who have local expertise is essential.

Gestorias are experts in all things administrative in Spain. Every expat needs to secure a gestor when they arrive in their chosen city ­ to assist with tax filing, real estate purchases and more.

But there are other experts, and post ­ pandemic they are more difficult to come by. When we moved into our home, we noticed right away that it needed some repairs. And not just a few little things. When we

I Got A Guy

flushed the toilet the porch light dimmed. Sometimes it turned off the TV or rebooted the internet. My genius husband did a thorough inspection and diagnosed the problem, almost immediately.

‘We have an electrical problem.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘You think?’

Then, I did what I always do, I drove into town to a local place where, surprise, locals gather. And I started telling my tale of woe. This wasn’t easy, because my Spanish is not where I need it to be to live in Spain. We do what we can, and I find people want to help. Finally, someone knew

someone whose cousin had a friend. They took my number down and promised I would receive a WhatApp message from this person.

Bada bing, bada boom ­ I got a guy. Believe me when I say that you need a guy in Spain. Someone who can do plumbing and electrical. Who can repair roof tiles and mysterious leaks of every variety. And most importantly, who answers when you call. Well, when you WhatsApp, because you have to use Google translate.

At last we were ready for winter. Flushing the toilet doesn’t dim the lights anymore because I got a guy!

Village complex on sale in Galicia

Credit: Idealista.com

THE tourism sector had a lot of catch up work to do last year, after two years of pandemic restrictions affecting holidays across the globe. And the Spanish air travel sector stepped up to the plate, nearly recovering pre­pandemic figures in some cases.

According to data collected by AENA (the body which manages many Spanish airports), Ryanair was far and away the most popular airline in Spain in 2022, transporting more than 45 million passengers.

The Irish budget airline’s closest competition came in the form of Spanish Vueling, carrying 27.1 million passengers. Another Spanish carrier, Iberia occupied third place on the list with a total of 25 million passengers in the last year.

While nearly all airlines recorded figures

Plane sailing

DESPITE a difficult economic forecast for some areas of business, one sector that has not suffered so much is the supermarket industry. And one supermarket chain is set for even more prosperity in 2023.

Aldi announced a huge boost in its Spanish operations on Thursday, January 12, with the opening of 50 new supermarkets in the next year. The German su­

below pre­pandemic levels, one airline took the biggest hit. Norwegian lost 64 per cent of its passengers in the last year.

On the other hand, as the fastest growing airline in the Spanish market, Wizz Air is on a rapid trajectory to success, with a 47.2 per cent increase in usage.

Shopping spree

permarket giant has made the decision on the back of a successful 2022 when it expanded its presence in Spain by opening 40 new branches.

More than half of the new shops are set to be built in Madrid, Andalucia, Catalonia and the Valencian Community, responding to demand. Other new

shops will also be located in strategic locations including the Canary Islands and the north of the country. The brand will also open its first shop in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. With the new shops, the supermarket is on track to have nearly 450 shops on Spanish soil by the end of 2023.

SPANISH authorities announced the arrival of the first Spanish people repatriated from Syrian refugee camps on Tuesday, January 10. The country has become the latest to repatriate its citizens who have family links to Islamic State fighters from war-torn Syria.

Direct combat with IS on the ground ended around four years ago, but family members have remained in Syrian refugee camps since. Authorities announced that a flight had landed at a Madrid airbase carrying two women and 13 children with Spanish nationality.

The women were taken into custody and will face judges at the highest criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional in due course.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the women, so it remains unclear whether they were previously wanted, but they could face charges of collaboration with a terrorist organisation.

The children were immediately taken into

Facing justice

mehmet ali poyraz / shutterstock.com

Dire conditions exist in Syrian refugee camps.

Madrid’s social service system.

Spain follows several European countries in repatriating their citizens including France and the UK who had resisted calls to re-admit people who had previously left for Syria.

Scorching statistics

IT’S official! 2022 was the hottest year on record for Spain. Data released by the Spanish national weather agency, Aemet on Wednesday, January 11 also revealed that the year was one of the driest ever seen in the country.

According to data from 52 weather stations in mainland Spain, 50 recorded record yearly temperatures. The only places that didn’t see record annual temperatures were Sevilla airport and Huesca, although both places came close to breaking their records. The Canary Islands were the only region that consistently did not break temperature records. Elsewhere, many towns and cities broke temperature records for days, months, seasons, and the whole year. Despite heavy rainfall in some eastern regions in March and April, western regions in autumn and most of the country in December, the rest of the year was extremely dry. In fact, several regions suffered from drought during the summer due to prolonged lack of rainfall.

Malaga is the most visited town on the Costa del Sol.

Photo:

BUDGET AIRLINE: Ryanair dominated the Spanish market.

Credit: Markus Mainka / shutterstock.com

PRIVATE health insurers signed on nearly half a million customers in 2022 as NHS struggles persist.

According to a local news source on Monday, January 9 the three largest companies BUPA, Aviva and Vitality all benefited. Between them they took on around 480,000 new patients.

Private health preferred

News of delayed operations, bed blocking and overcrowded accident and emergency departments have all contributed to the swing towards private health. Although many obtain private health insurance as part of

their employment package, an overwhelming number are said to have made the decision on their own.

Aviva said it added a further 100,000 customers during the year taking its total to 1.1 million, with a spokesperson say­

ing: “We have noted many individuals considering private health insurance for the first time, including significant interest from younger age groups who traditionally would not have viewed private health insurance as a pri­

ority. Bupa has said they added a similar number of customers taking their patient base to 2.4 million.

Vitality performed the strongest adding 180,000 new customers taking its tally to just under one million. A spokesperson said that demand had jumped by more than 20 per cent.

A Boozy Englishman

THE Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst has landed his first role since the death of his son, with the actor to play a boozy Englishman in a reboot of the American hit show Frasier.

Now 61, Lyndhurst will play the mischievous and boozy university professor Alan Cornwall alongside the show’s star actor Kelsey Grammer. The two appeared recently together in a play.

Lyndhurst had not acted since the death of his son Archie from a brain haemorrhage back in September 2020, he was just 19 at the time. Speaking about

his death Lyndhurst said: “Lucy and I are utterly grief­stricken.”

The reboot of Frasier will see the star of the show move to a new city, with new challenges to face and new relationships to forge.

According to a local news outlet on Saturday, January 14 the show will kick off with “Frasier has re­entered the building!” Lyndhurst is the first actor to be announced for the Frasier reboot with no other names mentioned as yet although filming is believed to have already started.

Challenger tanks for Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to tell him that the UK will supply 12 Challenger tanks to help the country drive out the invading Russian forces.

The news on Saturday, January 14 was welcomed by the Ukrainian forces who have struggled to gain the upper hand with equipment that is inferior and often

outdated.

Russia has reacted to the news by saying that the UK wishes to prolong the war as it struggles to gain the upper hand both in the physical and propaganda war.

The announcement also comes days after a number of European countries said they would do the same if the decision to supply more sophisticated attack equipment was done collectively.

With the UK having made the first move others are expected to follow with Russia expected to make a big push in the coming days to try and reassert itself in the war.

It is not known how soon Ukraine will receive the new tanks, with a significant amount of training being required to operate the sophisticated weaponry systems.

Private healthcare.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

JOSHUA M GREENE is a popular lecturer on Holocaust history and the spiritual quest, and a brilliant, entertaining communicator. A former instructor at Hofstra and Fordham Universities, Greene is the recipient of numerous awards for his historical biographies and documentary films.

The author is brave enough to tread where many others wouldn’t with a se ries of books surrounding Holocaust sur vivor memoirs. His latest book ‘Unstop pable’ is an epic biography about Siggi Wilzig that reads like a modern ­ day David­and­Goliath adventure. This story details how a Jewish teenager survived the Holocaust and later went to America where he built an oil and banking em pire.

Regarding the book, the author said: “Siggi B Wilzig, born Siegbert Wilzig, was a survivor of the Holocaust. While Ameri can teens were socialising in ice cream parlours, Siggi, as a young boy, suffered antisemitic attacks by Nazi hoodlums for being a Jew. At the age of 16, he, along with members of his family, was deport ed to the darkest place the world has ever known, Auschwitz.

“Siggi used his wits to stay alive, pretending to have trade skills the Nazis could exploit to run the concentration camp. After two death marches, he was

Unstoppable

Greene added: “He arrived in New York at the age of 21, with only $240 and no formal education beyond grade school. On arrival, he made three vows: never to go hungry again, to raise a Jewish family, and to speak out against injustice. He earned his first dollar in America shovelling snow after a fierce blizzard. After labouring in toxic sweatshops, he became a travelling salesman.

“From these humble beginnings, he ultimately became president, chairman, and CEO of a New York Stock Exchangelisted oil drilling company. He then took over and grew a full­service commercial bank listed on NASDAQ to more than $4 billion in assets. Siggi rose to the heights of these historically antisemitic industries and became one of the most successful businessmen in postwar America.”

Siggi B Wilzig’s Astonishing Journey from Auschwitz Survivor and Penniless Immigrant to Wall Street Legend can be found on Amazon along with Joshua M Green’s other books.

This interview and the interview in edition 1958 with Bea Franklin are part of a series the Euro Weekly News is running in the lead up to Holocaust Memorial Day. The headline of the interview with Bea Franklin should have read ‘Holocaust­era survivor’ instead of ‘Holocaust survivor’.

liberated from the concentration camp Mauthausen in 1945 at the age of 19. After being nursed back to health, he went

to work for the US Army Counter­Intelligence Corps hunting Nazis, a service that earned him a visa to America.”

The entrance to Auschwitz concentration camp where Siggi was a prisoner for almost two years.

Image: Joshua M Greene

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Electric fleet

DENMARK’S electric car fleet has increased considerably during 2022. The number of electric cars in the country shot up 70 per cent to over 112,000 compared to figures from 2021. The government say Denmark’s roads will need to become significantly greener if the country wants to achieve its ambitious CO2 emission goals.

THE NETHERLANDS

Union support

PEOPLE across Europe were asked how they would vote in a hypothetical referendum on whether or not their country should remain in the EU in both 2016-2017 and 2020-2022. In the Netherlands, the proportion of people saying they would vote to leave fell 8.4 percentage points to 13 per cent.

BELGIUM

Bye bye Brussels

LOW-COST carrier Ryanair has confirmed it will not reopen its base Brussels-Zaventem (BRU) ahead of an increase in operating costs for airlines operating out of the airport. Rumours had circulated that the base, closed in October 2022, could be reopened for the summer season.

GERMANY

German migration

THE number of people in Germany with a so-called migration background continues to rise. A government report noted changes due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest government figures reveal that in 2021, the number of people living in Germany with a so-called migration background stood at 27.3 per cent.

FRANCE

School uniforms

BRIGITTE MACRON, France's first lady, has said that she believes making school uniforms mandatory could help tackle social inequality among French students. She said students would also save time in getting dressed and money, which would not be spent on branded clothing.

NORWAY

Shellfish by-products

NORWEGIAN whitefish and crab supplier Hitramat is building Europe's first facility to process by-products from shellfish. The 1,000-square-metre facility will be built in partnership with Norwegian biotechnology company NutriShell. Hitramat processes 4,500 metric tons of crab annually, which accounts for about 70 per cent of all crab landed in Norway.

FINLAND

Wind power

FINLAND’S wind power capacity increased by 75 per cent last year. A total of 437 new wind turbines were put into operation in 2021, which resulted in an increase in wind power capacity of 75 per cent. Finland now has 1,393 wind turbines producing a combined power of 5,677 megawatts.

IRELAND

Export high

RAMPANT food price inflation saw the value of Ireland's food, drink and horticulture exports increase by 22 per cent last year, reaching a record high of €16.7 billion. Food and drink exports are up €3 billion in 2021 and almost 30 per cent on prepandemic levels, according to Bord Bia's Export Performance and Prospects report 2022/23.

ITALY

Medicinal cannabis

THE Italian army, which continues to hold a monopoly over medical cannabis production, has announced plans to dramatically ramp up production this year. On December 30, 2022, General Manager of the Defence Industries Agency Nicola Latorre announced that the army planned to increase its production by 75 per cent compared with previous targets in 2023.

PORTUGAL

Plane dash

A DELIVERY driver abandoned his van filled with parcels and with the engine running so that he could catch a flight from Schiphol Airport last week. Airport cameras caught the delivery driver checking in for a flight shortly after abandoning his parcels and delivery van.

UKRAINE

Logistics hub

UKRAINE will consider a proposal from the Federal Republic of Nigeria to build a logistics hub intended for grain and food product deliveries. There are discussions about the possibility of establishing cooperation and expanding trade relations between the two countries, namely creating a logistics hub for regular grain and food product deliveries.

SWEDEN

Rare elements

EUROPE’S largest known deposit of rare earth elements - key for the production of electric cars - has been discovered in Sweden’s far north, Swedish mining company LKAB has confirmed. LKAB said the newly-explored deposit, found right next to an iron ore mine, contained more than one million tonnes of rare earth oxides.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Big gamble

THERE’S a fundamental rule in gambling and betting, never spend more than you can afford to lose. A frustrated gambler in Spain, of Romanian origin, is going to lose a lot more than he spent following a judge’s order that he pays for two slot machines he damaged in a gambling hall.

Residency route

ON January 12, the British government said that a small number of people who had obtained ‘golden visas’ for rich investors might have obtained their wealth through corruption or other illicit financial activity. The government scrapped the visas last year, which had offered a route to residency for those investing at least £2m (€2.25m).

Footie finances

FOOTBALL’S Spanish Super Cup is a lucrative venture for all four teams who participate. Barcelona and Real Madrid will reportedly get base payments of €2.8m, while Valencia will earn €1.7m and Real Betis will receive €750,000. There is also €1m up for grabs for the runners­up and €2m for the champions.

Coffee change

CONSUMER champion Which? says that if saving money is at the top of your list of New Year’s resolutions, then kicking your daily takeaway coffee habit or switching to a cheaper supermarket brand is a great way to cut down on outgoings.

Cash usage

CASH usage increased for the first time in 13 years in 2022, according to data from Nationwide, as Brits responded to the cost­of­living crisis by budgeting with physical money. “For the first time in years we are seeing a natural rise in cash withdrawals,” confirmed the bank.

STAT OF WEEK

New crypto forum

FIVE associations have come together to form a new alliance ­ the UK Forum for Digital Currencies (UK FDC) following a rise in the popularity of crypto currencies.

Members include the City of London Corporation, Digital Pound Foundation, The Payments Association, TheCityUK and UK Finance. The aim of the alliance is to develop better policies, practice and regulation around digital currencies.

Digital currencies have been gaining rapid momentum over the past few years and have the potential to change how society thinks about and uses money. While there are risks, the UK FDC recognises this growing interest and the adoption of new forms of digital money across the globe and how it will open many opportunities for the UK to remain competitive in Fintech, while leading financial innovation with the right regulatory framework.

By combining the expertise and ex­

tended network of the five associations, the group will seek to enable a safe and secure environment for innovators to grow and attract international investment into the UK, while also helping to create a constructive bridge between the associations representing both incumbents and the emerging players in the sector.

The group will aim to mitigate the actual risks and alleviate the perceived

risks through education and the ability to advocate for appropriate policy and proportionate regulation.

The group will also take the lead in facilitating discussion and engagement between the UK’s existing financial services industry and the crypto industry, to help to reduce barriers between them and increase mutual understanding of this complex area within financial services.

Electric vehicles ‘unsuitable’

AS from 2030 no new petrol or diesel cars will be sold in the UK but, according to new research, more than two­fifths (44 per cent) of homes in the United Kingdom are actually unsuitable for electric vehicle ownership.

Even so, this year has seen Battery Electric Vehicle registrations up 38 per cent, in the last 12 months.

Still, those without garages, driveways or dedicated parking may see themselves as excluded from making the move to driving more sustainably, with no obvious place for that vital electric car charging point.

Lloyds Bank mortgage data shows that around 30 per cent of people applying for a mortgage do not have a garage or

space for a car. While the government has recently brought in new laws for housebuilders which require them to ensure any new ­ build homes, workplaces and supermarkets have an electric charging point installed, the data does suggest that many people will remain unable to

charge an electric vehicle at their place of residence.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, homeowners with a private driveway are the most positive about their homes’ suitability for a greener vehicle, with over half (55 per cent) confident they would be

able to make provision to charge an electric car.

Away from home, the charging infrastructure in the UK is improving, with the latest data showing there are over 36,000 charging points at over 21,000 locations across the UK. However, many rural areas remain charging black spots.

Rising debt

THE financial accounts of the Spanish Economy which were published on Wednesday, January 11, show that the consolidated debt of companies and households in Spain amounted to €1,674 billion in the third quarter of 2022.

In terms of gross domestic product (GDP), the ratio indicates a significant increase in debt to 128.6 per cent, compared to 142.5 per cent in September 2021, standing slightly below the figure of 129.3 per cent in December 2019.

Tourist spending

THE total expenditure by international tourists visiting Spain in November stood at €5.387m which is 43.2 per cent more than in November 2021 when it was €3.761m.

Figures released by Spain’s Institute of National Statistics this month show that the average daily expenditure per tourist stood at €1,241 which is an annual increase of 10.9 per cent.

The average daily spend increased by 16.1 per cent to €165.

Cost of living

NEARLY 12 million pensioners in the UK are eligible for a £150 or £300 Cost of Living payment, which should have been paid into accounts by last week. The money forms part of the Winter Fuel Payments scheme, which began in November last year.

Those over the State Pension age are eligible for the payments, which are an annual benefit paid to every eligible UK household.

Takeaways are the most common ‘luxury’ that almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of Brits plan to slash their spending on.

NEW ALLIANCE: Five associations have joined together.

3I Group 1.422,00 1.423,50 1.396,50 1,23M

Abrdn 203,40 206,00 201,30 1,49M

Admiral Group 2.190,0 2.201,0 2.165,0 183,44K

Anglo American 3.563,5 3.634,5 3.555,0 642,55K

Antofagasta 1.740,50 1.795,83 1.735,00 55,52K

Ashtead Group 5.006,0 5.098,0 4.997,0 163,77K

Associated British Foods 1.792,5 1.818,5 1.790,5 173,44K

AstraZeneca 11.654,0 11.662,0 11.468,0 340,20K

Auto Trader Group Plc 557,60 560,80 550,20 533,92K

Aveva 3.219,0 3.220,0 3.218,0 216,14K

Aviva 449,80 454,40 448,70 1,30M

B&M European Value Retail SA432,50 437,60 431,80 514,12K

BAE Systems 834,82 839,20 830,00 1,44M

Barclays 178,46 179,96 176,94 13,76M

Barratt Developments 450,70 453,00 447,70 1,21M

Berkeley 4.390,0 4.419,0 4.365,0 53,40K

BHP Group Ltd 2.799,00 2.849,00 2.791,00 305,79K

BP 483,52 486,50 482,55 7,40M

British American Tobacco 3.132,5 3.176,5 3.107,5 879,50K

British Land Company 430,30 434,50 429,20 413,52K

BT Group 128,18 129,55 127,55 2,81M

Bunzl 2.968,0 2.976,0 2.953,0 117,15K

Burberry Group 2.253,0 2.266,0 2.215,0 351,47K

Carnival 740,2 760,2 738,2 172,77K

Centrica 97,00 98,58 95,02 2,15M

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.918,0 1.927,5 1.896,5 279,84K

Compass 1.920,50 1.926,50 1.907,00 678,88K

CRH 3.668,0 3.687,5 3.649,0 181,37K

Croda Intl 6.976,0 7.056,0 6.938,0 41,43K

DCC 4.497,0 4.608,0 4.487,0 76,42K

Diageo 3.672,5 3.681,5 3.635,0 1,01M

DS Smith 346,90 349,30 345,80 1,16M

EasyJet 427,80 434,00 417,00 2,43M

Experian 2.890,0 2.898,0 2.847,0 146,96K

Ferguson 11.195,0 11.370,0 11.200,0 48,16K

Flutter Entertainment 12.390,0 12.500,0 12.170,0 93,27K

Fresnillo 932,80 972,40 928,80 245,65K

Glencore 552,60 556,40 543,30 14,44M

GSK plc 1.436,40 1.440,60 1.427,20 346,07K

Halma 2.113,0 2.120,0 2.093,0 102,63K

Hargreaves Lansdown 928,40 935,80 913,13 87,27K

Hikma Pharma 1.709,50 1.716,00 1.696,00 45,71K

HSBC 589,50 594,60 584,20 8,03M

IAG 153,84 157,32 151,74 18,23M

Imperial Brands 2.044,00 2.061,00 2.033,00 610,51K

Informa 650,20 652,40 646,00 827,21K

InterContinental 5.390,0 5.424,0 5.356,8 22,96K

Intermediate Capital 1.305,50 1.329,50 1.290,00 230,15K

Intertek 4.289,0 4.307,0 4.267,0 35,74K

ITV 78,55 80,04 77,60 4,37M

J Sainsbury 240,34 247,10 240,07 497,81K

Johnson Matthey 2.213,0 2.218,0 2.183,0 79,80K

Land Securities 697,80 699,40 690,20 353,91K

Legal & General 260,30 261,90 259,70 5,70M

Lloyds Banking 49,73 49,94 48,76 42,32M

London Stock Exchange 7.420,0 7.520,0 7.396,0 110,36K

Melrose Industries 151,80 154,00 150,90 11,60M

Mondi 1.485,00 1.506,00 1.478,00 196,84K

National Grid 1.034,00 1.042,00 1.028,50 1,34M

NatWest Group 294,40 294,90 288,00 5,67M

Next 6.542,0 6.636,0 6.540,0 64,54K

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

Ocado 747,40 771,80 742,00 469,99K

Persimmon 1.398,0 1.413,0 1.384,0 895,64K

Phoenix 630,00 635,20 628,60 342,32K

Prudential 1.282,50 1.299,00 1.268,50 1,46M

Reckitt Benckiser 5.958,0 5.992,0 5.950,0 166,02K

Relx 2.365,00 2.378,00 2.354,00 46,71K

Rentokil 521,60 525,40 521,00 939,10K

Rightmove 549,00 551,00 544,80 35,62K

Rio Tinto PLC 6.216,0 6.329,0 6.201,0 595,59K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 107,50 108,35 104,18 13,81M

Sage 769,80 773,80 768,20 212,29K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.220,50 1.230,50 1.217,50 2,87K

Schroders 464,8 471,8 464,9 320,02K

Scottish Mortgage 766,00 779,20 764,00 859,93K

Segro 845,20 859,00 844,40 571,86K

Severn Trent 2.761,0 2.793,0 2.750,0 123,79K

Shell 2.437,5 2.452,0 2.433,5 2,18M

Smith & Nephew 1.150,81 1.163,50 1.146,00 619,10K

Smiths Group 1.652,50 1.654,00 1.637,50 112,66K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.470,0 11.555,0 11.435,0 9,20K

SSE 1.671,50 1.677,70 1.662,35 125,09K

St. James’s Place 1.251,50 1.261,50 1.239,00 626,52K

Standard Chartered 703,20 709,40 698,80 1,01M

Taylor Wimpey 113,20 113,60 111,80 11,96M

Tesco 244,80 249,60 244,20 810,40K

Tui 170,15 174,75 168,45 3,41M

Unilever 4.200,0 4.211,5 4.185,5 57,32K

United Utilities 1.039,50 1.048,50 1.032,00 190,20K

Vodafone Group PLC 91,64 92,46 91,53 22,13M

Whitbread 3.023,0 3.070,0 3.018,0 263,89K WPP 920,40 925,60 916,20 408,03K

3M 129,35 129,82 1,83M

American Express 154,92 155,75 152,40 3,24M

Amgen 270,92 272,65 268,89 1,45M

Apple 133,41 134,26 131,44 71,23M

Boeing 214,32 214,92 207,37 8,19M

Caterpillar 255,07 257,38 251,01 3,88M

Chevron 177,08 178,37 175,90 6,88M

Cisco 49,00 49,43 48,85 14,24M

Coca-Cola 61,21 62,18 60,97 13,85M

Dow 58,52 58,80 57,50 7,31M

Goldman Sachs 369,94 370,10 362,57 2,09M

Home Depot 329,87 332,21 326,71 2,48M

Honeywell 215,98 217,22 212,38 2,96M

IBM 145,55 146,66 144,52 2,71M

Intel 30,29 30,38 29,47 28,86M

J&J 174,00 174,71 172,80 4,26M

JPMorgan 139,49 140,86 139,22 10,77M

McDonald’s 266,69 269,92 266,19 1,93M

Merck&Co 111,77 112,10 110,03 8,91M

Microsoft 238,51 239,90 233,56 27,17M

Nike 127,89 128,46 126,46 8,36M

Procter&Gamble 149,81 151,73 149,52 7,47M

Salesforce Inc 149,60 149,82 143,94 11,64M

The Travelers 191,99 192,75 189,69 761,05K

UnitedHealth 495,67 498,73 485,22 3,72M

Verizon 41,81 41,95 41,12 16,96M

Visa A 223,62 223,81 220,61 4,26M

Walgreens Boots 36,66 37,41 36,62 5,95M

Walmart 144,81 146,42 144,39 4,15M

Walt Disney 99,81 100,63 97,57 19,74M

Most Advanced

Andrada Mining Limited

+8,650.00% 111,700

Telecom Italia S.p.A. +26.12% 265,295

Relay Therapeutics, Inc. +20.72% 2.739M

Luminar Technologies, Inc. +11.20% 10.216M

Revolution Medicines, Inc. +11.12% 1.345M

Globalstar, Inc. +10.69% 6.02M

Sage Therapeutics, Inc. +10.62% 852,708

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. +10.32% 5.27M

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. +9.86% 32.191M

American Airlines Group Inc. +9.71% 96.442M

MercadoLibre, Inc. +9.34% 1.132M

Most Declined

Logitech International S.A. -16.86% 5.045M

AMTD Digital Inc. -14.85% 4.598M

CureVac N.V. -14.40% 2.262M

Warner Music Group Corp. -8.81% 4.551M

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. -6.06% 941,987

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. -5.95% 798,801

PS Business Parks, Inc. -5.84% 102,100

Bio-Techne Corporation -5.14% 2.441M

Illumina, Inc. -5.05% 2.484M

Ubisoft Entertainment SA -4.83% 37,081

TAL Education Group -4.80% 5.762M

BUSINESS EXTRA

Stock market

THE Spanish stock market traded a staggering €28.3 billion in equities in December 2022, up 1.7 per cent year on year and 0.8 per cent more than in the previous month. The effective trading volume in 2022 totalled €362.1 billion, 4.2 per cent less than in 2021.

Eurozone dip

EUROZONE bond yields dipped on January 12, ahead of a wave of new debt issuance, bringing a slew of bond auctions, with Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Norway all scheduled to sell new debt of varying maturities. This week alone has already seen around €30 billionin new issuance from eurozone governments.

Imagin that

IN just three years, Imagin, the lifestyle and digital services platform launched by Spain’s Caixa Bank has been able to offset 452 tonnes of CO2, collect more than 21 tonnes of plastic from the sea, plant 340,000 trees and mobilise 9,500 digital volunteers to collaborate in solidarity causes through digital channels.

Licence refund

THOUSANDS of families across the UK could be owed a £159 TV Licence refund ­ if you’re eligible. The controversial public TV funding fee has been in place since 1946 and since expanded to the colour TV Licence in the 1970s, followed by recent rules surrounding online streaming.

Stock market

THE Spanish stock market traded a staggering €28.3 billion in equities in December 2022 which was up 1.7 per cent year on year and 0.8 per cent more than in the previous month. The effective trading volume in 2022 totalled €362.1 billion, 4.2 per cent less than in 2021.

Targets for net zero

NEW data from Time Finance has shown that half of the UK’s small and medium ­ sized enterprises (SMEs) are anticipated to invest in sustainability in 2023 as pressure mounts for businesses to cut their carbon emissions in line with the government’s 2050 Net Zero targets.

Exploring the financial support businesses will need to achieve their sustainability ambitions, the survey found that 50 per cent said that businesses will invest more time and money into a greener strategy following COP27 and its stark reminders of the fight against climate change.

Time Finance is sharing

its data ahead of the anticipated announcement from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) detailing the

Property prices

TOWNS and cities in the United Kingdom with the strongest house price growth saw their average property value increase by more than £50,000 (+15.2 per cent) over the last year (up to November 2022), according to new data from Halifax.

York saw the highest property price inflation of any town or city in England and Wales during 2022, growing by +23.1 per cent (£69,648) over the course of the last year. Since March 2020, average house prices in the historic city have risen by +41.9 per cent from £261,183 to £370,639 (£109,457).

Woking, with its good links to central London, saw the biggest increase of any town or city in cash terms in 2022. The cost of buying a home in the desirable commuter town leapt from

£493,299 in 2021 to £586,925 in November 2022, an increase of £93,626 (+19.0 per cent).

The question being asked is whether London is falling out of favour with house buyers? While house prices in London have increased at a slower pace (+7.2 per cent) than other parts of the UK, prices in the capital are still comfortably the most expensive in the country at £596,667.

No London boroughs appeared in the top growth areas for year ­ on ­ year house price increases. The popular residential district of Islington saw a rise of only +0.4 per cent over the year, among the lowest in the country. However, properties in the area still had a large average price tag of £712,843.

“The

nesses, to work with them to ensure they have access to the most beneficial forms of finance to enable investment.

“We can clearly see that businesses have a strong commitment to the sustainability agenda, made all the more pressing following COP27. What we need to do now is ensure that businesses have access to the finance they need to bring these plans to life.”

Despite the widespread ambition amongst businesses to improve sustainability, the survey also found that more than 40 per cent of those surveyed believe affordability will be a barrier to green investment.

Retirement annuities

NEARLY one million (990,000) UK pre­retirees, those aged over 55 and still in work, are considering annuities for the first time in preparation for their retirement, according to research from Legal & General Retail.

One in six people approaching retirement but still working (16 per cent) are looking at the product due to improved rates against the backdrop of rising living costs. This is in addition to the 828,000 (14 per cent) of working over 55s who had always planned to buy an annuity in retirement.

Aside from the improvement in rates, people considering an annuity are drawn by the stability of a guaranteed income and the assurances the product offers in a volatile market.

Reliant on credit

A SURVEY of 2,180 UK adults, carried out by the Money and Pensions Service, shows that 23 per cent have relied on credit or money from family and friends to buy food in the last three months. The same number have done so for electricity and gas.

Around half of them (43 per cent for food, 53 per cent for utilities) said they’d never had to do this before.

Similar numbers said they’re relying on borrowing to meet the cost of their rent or mortgage (17 per cent, 52 per cent for the first time) and paying off other forms of credit (21 per cent, 41 per cent).

outcomes of its Net Zero Review, the results of which are expected to give businesses clearer direction on their path to Net Zero.

Ed Rimmer, CEO at Time Finance, said:

role of alternative finance is to understand and facilitate the growth ambitions of busi­

A greener strategy.

Strong growth. Guaranteed income.

Image: Neil Lang / Shutterstock.com Image: enciktepstudio / Shutterstock.com

DO you find it odd to witness a continuing run of strange faces popping up all over the TV when British strikers kick in to action?

Well don’t. These previously unobserved, shadowy individuals, are the illustrious Union representatives, or General Secretary ‘leaders’ who emerge from the woodwork (or their luxury villas on the Costas) whenever they have an excuse to show themselves in public and present some sort of reason for receiving their huge incomes.

Doing ‘what’s right’ for their members, earns these people vast amounts and they are happy to keep the strikes going for just enough time to ‘reach agreement,’ as long as it doesn’t interfere with the lives of Riley they enjoy when things are ‘running smoothly’. Their salaries, (all paid for by their members), are truly mind boggling.

Far too many to go into, I’ve selected just a few examples. The two General Secretaries of GMB (British Trade Union) share £263,000 per year. Francis O’Grady GS of the Trade Union Congress receives an annual income of £152,000. Mick Cash! GS of the National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport earns £137,000. Christina McAnea,UNISON (Public service workers) £140,000.

It doesn’t end there. The so called ‘remunerations’ that most of these ‘leaders’ are also awarded are colossal. Chaand

Lining pockets

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

Nagpaul, General Secretary of the British Medical Association receives a salary of £180,000. Last year he also received a remuneration of £203,000 (Six times what an NHS doctor earns!), awarded to ‘cover times he spent away from his practice!’ It simply goes on and on.

Most of the people who hold these positions are of course Labour supporters (far more lucrative). Incredible when you learn that the Labour Party considers anyone who earns over £70,000 is on the rich list! You really couldn’t make it up.

Heaven help the strikers, who are simply being used by these individuals as fodder to support lifestyles and bank balances, incomes that are actually in total excess of most members of parliament.

One of my readers remarked recently he considered my views ‘old fashioned,’ all I can say is thank the Lord for that! His published letter actually accused me of claiming minorities should not be allowed

to voice their concerns. That of course is totally misconceived rubbish.

What I do find disgraceful is the way minorities are openly allowed to shout their opinions from the roof tops, while majorities are afraid to publically voice their concerns in case they are accused of ‘offending’ ­ or even arrested. Give me a break.

As for Harry Whinger, I truly don’t have time for this spoiled, imbecilic, spouse controlled husband, who has no idea of the challenges of real life. I do however feel parts of his book may have painted a Taliban target on his back. His security outlay has probably just hit the roof ­ or should have done!

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com. Expatradioscotland Mon and Friday 1pm till 4.

HEIR APPARENT? OUR VIEW

PUTIN is reportedly set to nominate his chosen heir this year following months of speculation over his health and internal fighting at the top of Russian politics.

Apparently, rather than risk being toppled, Putin wants to hand over power to an heir apparent before retiring to his £1 billion ‘palace’ on the Black Sea, according to his former speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov.

This palace reportedly boasts a 16­storey underground bunker which has been compared to Dr No’s lair and reportedly awaits Putin so he can live out his golden years worryfree while his heir handles the chaos left by the Ukraine war.

In the running are reportedly his trusted underlings, the mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

The move is reportedly due to the mood against Putin in Russia being too tumultuous for him even be able to rig another presidential election with certainty.

Putin’s apparent fears come from the rise in popularity of the chief of his private army of mercenaries, Progozhin, and the sledgehammer he and his troops reportedly bludgeon defectors and enemies to death with. Abbas claims Putin sees an ending similar to that of Gaddafi unless he lines up his replacement soon. This alleged uncertainty, even by Putin, over his fate shows just how much his war in Ukraine has undermined stability, not just in Europe but globally.

Where does this leave the war however? With Putin unlikely to ever give up and publicly admit defeat, will it be left to his successor to negotiate some sort of peace deal? Only time will tell.

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

KIRSTY YOUNG’S appearance on a special Christmas Day edition of Desert Island Discs she presented for 12 years (pushing 14 years writing thrillers and this column now, so you’re in excellent company, Kirsty!), reminded me what people have often let slip. How sometimes, in an absent­minded moment driving to work or between meetings, they’d choose their own personal Desert Island Discs.

Whereas the soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf infamously chose only her OWN recordings when interviewed, Inspector Morse (remember him?) would have preferred the Norwegian, Kirsten Flagstad whom he regarded as THE greatest 20th century Wagnerian soprano. Her performance in Wagner’s Tristan und

Isolde: Prelude & Liebestod is considered by many, Morse included, as one of the greatest recordings ever.

In fact, I can’t forget the picture of recording with Flagstad painted by fellow opera singer Dietrich Fischer­Dieskau. He said the orchestra would play, and Flagstad would be knitting away until she heard her cue. She’d put her knitting aside, stand up, let loose with the most incredible high notes, beautifully sung, and then she’d sit down, pick up her knitting and keep going until her next entrance.

“Knitting for grandchildren!” Fischer ­ Dieskau explained, his eyes shining.

So, which eight discs would YOU choose?

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.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

NoraJohnson’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Nora’s latest thriller.

ODD BEHAVIOUR

ALTHOUGH it happened about 30 years ago, the image still brings me a snigger of amusement. In a supermarket in Buckinghamshire I saw two young men, probably in their early 20s, each pick up a cucumber and start fencing with each other in the aisle.

It reminded me of my old eccentric friend Monty Fry who was always amusing, never boring, but sometimes embarrassing or frustrating company. I recall him banging impatiently on the door of a restaurant loo which had been occupied for at least seven minutes and shouting “We know you’re in there! Come on out with your hands up” The reaction of customers was mixed.

People who break the accepted social rules are often ‘special cases’ who seem oblivious to the reactions of others. Or perhaps they relish the embarrassment or bewilderment they

cause. Not only are we all very different, but so are our perceptions of what is socially acceptable and, of course, so are our senses of humour.

About 60 years ago I attended a wedding in Oxfordshire which didn’t really go to plan. The best man has several responsibilities, but the most important is to ensure that the bridegroom remains sober and fit for the wedding day. On this

occasion, the groom managed to lead by example at the bachelor party the night before.

Having downed six pints of Morrell’s ale and several Glen Grants, he had to be hauled out of bed the next day and was unable to stand up. As a result, he had to be carried into the church and down the aisle like a side of beef by his best man and three other ‘pallbearers’. His father propped him up for

the actual ceremony. It was so difficult for me to suppress my laughter, although his bride managed it easily enough. The marriage lasted less than three years.

There are those who attract people by their personality, by their actions and by their words. They can be raconteurs of interesting or amusing experiences and anecdotes. Others are completely bland with the

charisma of a dead earwig.

Eccentric behaviour is harmless enough. What is of greater concern is odd behaviour resulting in harm to others. Take a bow, Kim Jong ­ un. The power ­ crazed egoism of one man results in complete suppression of an entire nation as well as a threat to the stability of Japan and South Korea. On a larger scale, it was the same with Hitler and Stalin, then it was Idi Amin, Pol Pot and Mugabe and now we have Putin.

There has always been the deadly combination of power and evil. Frequently, power does much more than corrupt; it can and does spread cruelty, suffering and destruction on a massive scale.

This is surely why no political system will ever work successfully unless it is tied to Christianity. Quite simply: “Love the neighbour as thyself.”

The law kicked in

THE British Benevolent Fund exists to help those Britons in Spain who face extreme financial hardship ­ whether they live in Spain or come on holiday.

Some 18 million Britons visit Spain every year ­ the vast majority have a great holiday ­ but some go very wrong and a holiday in the sun quickly turns into a seeming nightmare.

One such incident happened just a few weeks ago.

A family with two teenage children took their first overseas holiday since before the pandemic with an all­inclusive holiday package of accommodation, meals and flights ­ they used their modest savings to treat themselves ­ the father was about to start work after a long absence.

What they didn’t know was their 13­year­old daughter had been ‘chatting’ with a ‘friend’ who it turned out was a man in his 40s who had travelled from America to meet her.

On the first night the daughter left to go for a walk by the

beach alone. She didn’t return.

The anguish of the parents can only be imagined as they went from bar to bar, street to street and combed every beach to find their daughter.

The police were called and the search widened to cover the whole region with a priority one investigation.

In the early hours of the morning the Guardia Civil had tracked their daughter with a man to an apartment close by.

He was arrested and the daughter taken to hospital.

The relief of the parents was short lived after the truth that she had met him voluntarily.

And the law was about to kick in. The presiding judge ordered the parents to court along with their daughter.

The consulate did all they

could to help them in their distress but they had no choice but to appear in court.

However by doing so they would be missing their return flight and had barely enough means to feed themselves let along pay for additional accommodation.

Working with the consular offices the BBF paid for this and their flight back to the UK.

The man remains in custody awaiting trial.

Visit www.britishbenevo lentfund.org or contact olaf. clayton@britishbenevolent fund.org on how you can help. make the difference.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

David Worboys’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Odd behaviour by eccentrics can be funny - unlike odd behaviour by powerful egoists. For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

DAVID

photo creditslivingstingy.blogs and canadianmanufacturing.com

FREE PARKING!

FREE parking in Torremolinos! Who would have thought we would have seen the day and it has spots for people that need mobility and have motorcycles too. Whoever thought of the idea well done! Nothing infuriates me more thinking that I have the perfect parking spot, just for a motorbike to be plopped right in the middle of a space. The fact that they have also said about redoing pavements and drainage is great to hear too, rain is bad enough but when you step in a puddle by accident and get soggy shoes well that’s one way to really “dampen” my day!

Stewart Brown

Morgan Freeman

Who would have thought that Morgan Freeman would have been spotted in Mallorca of all places! We had just visited that restaurant two days prior to his spotting. We are in absolutely disbelief that we couldn’t see him. Regenald our pup would have been so happy to see him. There is a perfect spot for that one­day photo we will hopefully get another time on the mantelpiece. We hope you had a fab time, Morgan! The food was delicious.

Roger McKinnon

About time!

There is nothing that aggravates me more than litter and in particular cigarette butts and the fact that the companies are now going to be forced to clean it up, even better! It’s a bad habit and more needs to be done to stop with smoking in general. The €1 billion could be better used and spent elsewhere, hopefully to put more playparks around the place! More needs to be done for the youngsters.

Rosemary Higgins

Happy Birthday

Well, that article on Sabangau has just made my day, the Bioparc is one of the places we love to visit as a family and to finally know some of the names of the animals and now the tiny orangutang’s birthday, even better. My daughter, Susy, is writing Sabangau a birthday card as we speak. Thank you EWN for the 10 minutes of silence and to keep Susy occupied!

Melissa, Fuengirola

Positive thinking

The exclusive article on the holocaust survivor was such a great read and her secret to longevity

being ‘positive thinking’ I think is something we should all do more of. We don’t know how lucky we are, we all have our troubles, but I think we should take her advice and try and implement more positive thinking into our day to day lives. Ninety­eight and still looking fabulous, I’ll take all the advice!

Felicity Morgan

Back to normal

Back to normal and hopefully it stays that way, it has been so great the last year just being able to do what we used to do. Ok we still must wear masks on public transport and in the pharmacies, but in comparison to what it once was I’m happy to comply. This was the first Three Kings’ parade since everything, and it was so lovely to have everyone come together and feel like a community again.

Vanessa Kidd

Men and beauty

As a man that suffers with acne it was great to read the skin care article and how to best get into a routine when looking after your skin and how to add it into your lifestyle without it being too complicated either. Does anyone else feel the same?

Pleased, James

Editor’s letter

I live near the hospital Costa del Sol Marbella which is where my husband was admitted to yesterday about 11am via Helicopteros’ amazing service they offer. I was allowed to visit my husband at 8pm last night. I saw him in the ICU area. I spoke with the doctor in their observation area who told me they would take a scan on his head as he had fallen and I was to return to the hospital at 1pm today to speak to a doctor about the results of the scan and other issues in his chest (infection). However I left the hospital about 9pm and at 2.30am I was awoken by someone banging on my apartment door. On opening the door there was my poor husband in a wheelchair being delivered back home with only a hospital gown and a sheet on!! He was freezing and terrified! This is appalling behaviour to any human let alone one out of an ICU bed and into an ambulance and back home with a VERY uncomfortable vehicle! This should NOT happen to any person or dog!!

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.

Lynda Woodin

MORE PARKING: Very welcome news for residents and visitors.

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Email: info@nlcnerja.com Website: www.nlcnerja.com Facebook:www.facebook.com /nlcnerj

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New Life Church Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us at our Sunday gathering. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. Sunday Service 11.00am; Prayer Meetings Wednesdays 11.00am; Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780

CHARITY Shop Pocapecunia we need things for the house/kitchen, decoration, vases, plates, cups, saucers, kitchen tools, paintings, pottery pots and pans etc. Prolongacion Avd. Rodgriguez Acosta, Nr the Parador Roundabout, opposite café Trébol, Nerja (294373)

THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning at 9.30 we have an online ‘Zoom’ HC service - please contact Fr Nigel with an e-mail address if you would like to join us. Priest in Charge, Father Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House - 951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, e-mail: cofenerja@gmail.com

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

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MISCELLANEOUS MOTORING

FOR SALE

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

Costa Tropical. One day per week. Must be legal to work in Spain, have own transport, know the areas and be reliable. Please send CV with covering letter to Martyn by email mab021262@gmail.com (292475)

SOLAR ENERGY

SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for Large Glazed Areas to Reflect Heat / Glare and Stop Furniture Fading and Still Keep The View. Save Heat in the Winter to Improve Your Living Environment. ian@solarshadetinting.com Tel Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (258409)

WINDOW TINTING

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (301483)

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NAUTICAL OTHERS SITUATIONS VACANT

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS wanted for Costa del Sol and

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It’s a knockout And we’re off!

BRITISH social media sensation­turned­boxing star, KSI secured victory in the ring once more in a bout against fellow YouTube personality, FaZe Temperrr on Saturday, January 14. KSI soared to victory with a first round knockout during the match.

Brazilian ­ born Temperrr stepped up from the undercard at the last minute to replace Dillon Danis in the planned Misfits Boxing bout after Danis pulled out just two weeks before, citing a lack of training.

The cruiserweight crossover fight was held in Wembley Stadium, in London with a passionate crowd including TV star, Louis Theroux showing up to support KSI.

Temperrr landed a few shots, but KSI came through in the first round with a right hand and left hook to put him on the ground. As Temperrr failed to answer the count, the knockout was awarded to KSI after just two minutes and 19 seconds.

Boxing commentators applauded Temperrr for stepping up to the challenge but also remarked that “it’s time” for KSI to fight opponents at a higher level as it’s becoming “a mismatch”.

The win brings KSI one step closer to a highly­anticipated clash with another YouTuber, Jake Paul.

THIS week saw a return to action in the Euro Weekly News Walking Football Leagues and BAHA Whiskey Cup competition after the festive layoff.

BAHA Whiskey Cup

The BAHA Whiskey Cup competition, which sees its third year of sponsorship, has so far been played in two round­robin sections, east and west, with the winner of each playing the second placed team in the opposite section at home. This has resulted in the following semifinal games, these to be played in the near future:

Malaga v Nerja Utd Competa v (still to be decided)

Malaga have already cemented their top place in the west section by beating AC Benhavis 5 ­ 3 at home last week. This was a challenging contest between two well­organised teams, with Malaga controlling the majority of the play with a solid defensive display and some good goalkeeping. They will play Nerja Utd, who finished in second spot in the east section, in one semi ­ final. However, games are still being contested to decide who plays Boca

Seniors Competa, who head the east’s round robin group, in the other semi­final. Watch this space!

Leagues

Torrox Tornadoes 3 v 1 Nerja Utd

In the Euro Weekly News Over 60s League, Torrox Tornadoes got revenge for recent cup results by beating Nerja Utd 3 ­ 1 at home. A well­spirited and lively game

saw some good passing and well­timed movement, along with energy and controlled, competitive effort. Only one converted penalty for running was awarded, along with three well­taken goals, the last of which sealed the match for Torrox with a 30 metre lob, which turned out

to be the last kick of the game! Well done to both sides for providing such an entertaining fixture!

Don’t forget…… ……you can find out more up­to­date information concerning all our Costa clubs by accessing Facebook walking footy.com.

WALKING FOOTBALL: Has now returned to action after the festive period.

100 million euros, Pedri is the leading national football team player in Spain as of Nov 2022.

KSI: Secured victory in the ring once more.

Photo credit: KSI (Via Instagram)