Costa Blanca North 19 • 25 January 2023 Issue 1959

THE REAL HEROES

MAKE A SMILE organisation has named children’s carers as the unsung real heroes of Christmas. Thanks to the amazing support of the community, Make A Smile was able to spread some joy by donating Christmas presents to 130 children in care.

Tony Grande, founder of Make A Smile confirmed: “It’s been a total privilege to work with these outstanding professionals over the last 15 years. I’ve seen firsthand over the years how hard they work and how much they have sacrificed to benefit the children in their care.

“Christmas has always been the most difficult time of the year for the children and their carers who also have to be

away from their own families.”

Tony added: “However it is thanks to the kindness, generosity and overwhelming show of love from the local community that has enabled the carers to make the children’s Christmas a magical one.”

Make A Smile is a non­profit organisation helping children in care on the Costa Blanca un­

der registered number: G54763040.

For the last 15 years Make A Smile, through teamwork with the community, has helped children in care by providing day­to­day bits and bobs such as school materials and clothing, etc.

Tony confirmed: “Make A Smile is determined at all times to make a positive impact on

society. The strong relationship we have with charities provides perfect examples of the benefits of the community working together to improve the lives of local underprivileged and vulnerable adults and children.”

For more information email: info@makeasmile.es or head to their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/makea smile.es.

Airport recovery

THE good news is, it looks as though things are starting to pick up as AENA (the airport management group which includes Alicante ­ Elche 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.

Alicante­Elche Airport saw 13,202,880 passengers walk through its doors which, even with a decrease of 12.3 per cent compared to 2019, is a positive sign.

As for the number of aircraft in operation, the airport confirmed they saw 90,109 planes fly through its skies.

Founder, Tony Grande, surrounded by the carers.

Image: Make A Smile

Tourism on the up

TEULADA MORAIRA has had more than 17,000 tourism inquiries and almost 1,000 visits to the castle the councillor for Tourism, Susanne Katzgrau, confirmed on Tuesday, January 17.

The year 2022 has been

characterised by a positive recovery in tourism demand. This reactivation of the tourism sector is reflected in the occupancy data provided by tourist accommodation companies. The average occupancy rate in high sea­

son, according to data provided voluntarily by accommodation companies, has been 82.05 per cent, which represents an increase of 10.8 per cent compared to 2021.

The record of demands attended in the Tourist Info Teulada Moraira has been 17,844, figures that increase in the summer months and holiday periods.

A VERY excited Benidorm has confirmed that it has everything ready to celebrate the Cyclo­cross World Cup on Sunday, January 22.

More than 8,000 seats have been sold and 50 international media booked for the event that brings this test to Spain after 11 years.

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Perez, highlighted “the success of the call for this championship in Benidorm, recovering a World Cup event that hasn’t been celebrated in Spain for 11 years.”

World Cup

perfectly prepared. Both in winter and in summer we are receivers and emitters of large messages and major events, something essential to continue being an example in the sports and tourism field.”

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Regarding the origin of the demand, the number of Spanish travellers represented 27.05 per cent (Valencian Community, Madrid Community, Basque Country and Catalonia); and the number of foreign travellers 72.95 per cent, coming from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium (until the end of September).

The record of visits to the Santa Catalina Parish Church, open one day a week from April to October, has been 400 people and the Castle of Moraira registered a total of 919 people.

He added: “The fact that the UCI Cyclocross World Cup is held in the city of Benidorm means that our municipalities are

Founded in 1900, in Paris, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the worldwide governing body for cycling. It develops and oversees cycling in all its forms and for all people, as a competitive sport, a healthy leisure activity and a sustainable means of transport, but also as a way to have fun.

Another six months

BENIDORM is set to control and monitor the presence of the Sars ­ Cov ­ 2 virus in wastewater for a further six months.

This has been approved by the Local Government Board (JGL) of Benidorm City Council after a proposal made by the councillor for the Water Cycle, Jose Ramon Gonzalez de Zarate.

This service was initially

approved in July 2020 and a digital platform was implemented to monitor the virus in wastewater. Due to the persistence of the pandemic and the continuity of the service provision, it has been agreed to continue monitoring the water. This decision will be reviewed on a six ­ monthly basis.

Mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Perez, confirmed: “It

is considered appropriate to maintain the monitoring service in wastewater in the WWTP of Benidorm which will become a permanent sentinel of the evolution and presence of the virus in Benidorm.”

The cost of this service will be €15,080 and will be assumed by the concessionaire of the Water Cycle, Hidraqua, and charged to the Investment Funds.

Benidorm award

VISIT BENIDORM has been nominated for the IATI Awards, which recognise quality in digital travel communication and content creation. IATI is an online travel insurance company and Visit Benidorm is competing for the award in the category of ‘Best content creation by tourism companies and institutions’.

Green space

OVERCOMING the old concept of isolated gardens, three decades ago Gandia set out to start connecting green spaces, gardens and paths suitable for pedestrians and cyclists which has made Gandia one of the cities with the most square metres of green space per inhabitant.

Smile slogan

‘SMILE, you’re already in El Campello’, is El Campello’s tourism slogan, focused on promoting the municipality’s excellence in all physical and virtual channels to attract family, sports, cultural and gastronomic tourism, segments in which a municipality with 23 kilometres of coastline and many things to discover stands out.

Tourist fund

LA VILLAJOYOSA Town Council has received a whopping €2.44 million from the Plan for tourist sustainability fund. This money will be invested in 17 projects designed to transform the tourism model of Villajoyosa towards a more sustainable destination between 2023 and 2025.

Star products

TEULADA MORAIRA is participating in Madrid’s International Tourism Fair from January 18 to 22. It plans to showcase innovation and new technologies adapted to leisure activities, as well as the tradition of gastronomy and star products: fish from the bay of Moraira and the muscatel grape from Teulada.

SPECSAVERS Opticas in Javea wishes to thank all of their generous customers, staff and local residents who donated to their Christmas Food Collection.

Thanks to their generosity, Caritas was presented with 10 boxes of food in January. This will help to feed the 334 families that Caritas Parroquial Ntra Sra De Loreto support on an ongoing basis. They provide food and help them with their individual needs, such as clothing, housing costs, training etc.

This is part of Specsavers Opticas Javea’s ongoing commitment to supporting this excellent charity. In June 2022, they signed an agreement to donate one pair of glasses per month to

BENIDORM Municipal Archive continues to increase its photographic collection with a collection of 86 black and white fascinating images taken by a British tourist in the early years of the city’s tourism development.

The councillor for Historical and Cultural Heritage, Ana Pellicer, has confirmed: “This collection provides unpublished images of Benidorm that contribute to witness the evo­

Food support

their charity and this will continue this year. Caritas selects someone each month who needs glasses but can’t afford them. They have a complete eye test to check their eyes are healthy and find out their prescription, before choosing a pair of frames and receiving the glasses, completely free of charge.

Find out more about Caritas and the incredible work they do on their website www.caritas.es.

Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store or book a free eye test.

Photo collection

lution of our city in recent decades and to recover our recent past.

“Due to the content of the donated images, some of a personal nature and others of landscapes and places in Benidorm, we know that this British family was staying at the Hotel Rosaleda and that during

Fishing Club

In total, 20 fish were caught, 19 of which were carp.

THE Teulada ­ Moraira Fishing Club got together on Wednesday, January 11, to fish section B1.

Frank was on peg B1/22 and did not get a bite all day until the last five minutes and ended up with a 2.4­kilogram carp. Temperatures got to around 19 degrees with a water temperature of 15 degrees.

The total catch of 20 fish, 19 of which were carp and one was a carasio, had a combined weight of 37 kilograms.

The final results of the day were as follows: In first place with four fish weighing in at 7.475 kilograms was Mick Owen. Second with four fish weighing in at 7.4 kilograms was Steve Hartwell. Peter Shephard, in third place, had two fish weighing in at 5.3 kilograms. Next up was Derek Jones who had three fish weighing in at 4.85 kilograms, and in fifth spot was Jack Janssen who caught two fish weighing 3.275 kilograms.

The Teulada­Moraira Fishing Club is made up of a friendly bunch of people who are happy to welcome new members. For further information email Frank at frankpovey1@gmail.com or call (+34) 966 490 338

their stay they toured the municipal food market and the streets Martinez Oriola and Costera del Barco. They enjoyed bathing on Poniente beach, walked through Calles Tomas Ortuno and Carrero dels Gats and visited the port.”

The material donated by Dutch businessman, Wim

Kuipers, is already available for consultation by researchers and in the near future it will also be available to the general public once the new management and consultation program for the Archive, which is currently in the process of implemented, is launched.

Choral donation

MONTGO CHORALE were delighted to welcome another large and enthusiastic audience at the choir’s Christmas concert at the Loreto Church in Javea last month.

It was a full house for the occasion, and the Loreto Church’s Caritas, which provides financial and practical help and comfort to local families in need, was the beneficiary of the very generous donations of the Retiring Collection. Consequently, on behalf of the Montgo Chorale and those who attended the performance, the Choir Treasurer Peter Crossfield Lobb, together with other steering group members and the Choir Director, Aileen Lightfoot, were delighted to present a cheque of €1,115 to Caritas representatives Elly van de Wel, Director, and Marcela FitzGerald. For Caritas, the social economy is a challenge, but also a reality.

They are committed to it and that is why they develop projects that put people at the centre of economic activity and facilitate their access to decent work. Caritas defends a social economy at the service of human rights and prioritises care for the planet.

Montgo Golf

MONTGO Golf Society played a Stableford competition at Oliva Nova Golf Course on Friday, January 13. Folklore says Friday the 13th is unlucky, but the 27 Montgo members felt lucky as they were blessed with a nice sunny day and an ever­improving golf course.

The event was the first trophy competition for 2023. The sponsor of the day was Ruth Strasser who provided some wonderful delights for the members to enjoy.

The winner this week with a magnificent score of 40 Stableford points was Gerian Van Ooijen playing off a handicap of nine, the lowest handicap player in the Society.

In second place was Terry Griffiths with 39 Stableford points. In third place was the old bandit from Marina Alta, Peter Gardiner, with 38 Stableford points and in fourth place was Helmut Pertler with 36 Stableford points.

The sponsor also provided four nearest the pin prizes, two for the Ladies and two for the Gents. Next week's competition is the Montgo Quaich, a four­ball better ball competition, sponsored by Barry and Liz Butler.

For more information about Montgo Golf Society visit www.montgo golfsociety.net.

Donations for Xmas Food Collection.

Image:

Specsavers Opticas / Javea

Image: Teulada-Moraira Fishing Club

Cyclist killed by tram

A TRAGIC event occurred next to the University of Alicante on Saturday, January 14. A young cyclist was run over by a tram in the municipality of San Vicente del Raspeig, right in front of the Cristo de la Paz mortuary .

The incident took place at around 7.30pm, with the deceased, a teenage boy, somehow finding himself trapped under the moving vehicle.

Although the emergency services were immediately deployed to the location, their efforts proved futile as the victim died instantly.

As a result, they were not required to transfer him to a hospital, as reported by a local news source.

Posting on their official Twitter profile, the Consorcio Provincial Bomberos Alicante wrote @BomberosDipuALC : “We regret the death of a young man in a traffic accident with the TRAM. Our deepest condolences to family and friends.”

FROM Monday January 16, the adaptation phase (until February 1) of the new regulated parking service in Teulada Moraira will begin. The aim of this measure is to solve parking difficulties for residents of the municipality.

Drivers who park their vehicle in the time-limited zone must obtain the corresponding receipt, which can be obtained from the vending machines provided by cash or credit card. The receipt will show the time of arrival, the amount paid, the vehicle registration number and the authorised parking end time.

LINE 9 of the TRAM d’Alacant that runs between Denia and Benidorm started operating on Monday, January 16, after more than six years of work and actions aimed at modernising the route and improving its safety. The Generalitat has invested a whopping €150 million in the refurbishment of the line.

The councillor for Territori-

New parking rules

The service may also be used through the mobile application or any other telematic system.

The maximum parking time in the blue zone will be two hours in the case of non-residents and three hours in the case of residents.

After this time, in the case of non-residents, the vehicle must be moved from

the parking zone. In the case of residents affected by the regulated zones, they may renew their tickets if they are going to exceed the three-hour limit within the established timetable.

In the case of vehicles for people with reduced mobility (provided that they have the appropriate badge), the maximum period of stay will be doubled.

Choo choo

al Policy, Rebeca Torro, confirmed: “The tram has shown the firm commitment of the Generalitat to a collective and more sustainable public transport model because it will ensure that users can

travel in a sustainable way and leave the car at home which will help combat climate change.

“The tram will provide service to more than 300,000 inhabitants, a figure that rises

to almost 800,000 potential users in summer.”

The last section of L9 put into service has made it possible to renovate the route between Gata de Gorgos and Denia. The project has made it possible to integrate the tracks urbanistically, transform the level crossings into crossings with traffic lights and eliminate the walls that enclosed the tracks.

New email scam warning

Village in Galicia on sale

INTERNET users in Spain need to be aware of a new email scam that impersonates Social Security and can subsequently infect your device.

The Internet User Security Office (OSI) warned on Friday, January 13, of a campaign of fraudulent emails that are circulating which impersonate the Social Security Electronic Office. The scam has the usual heading of ‘Last notice tax settlement’.

In the main text of the email, it informs the recipient that there is a non­payment of tax assessments on their part. The sender then guides the reader to a link where they are told they can download a report generated by the Immediate Supply of Information (SII). When this link is clicked, it purportedly directs the victim to a website where a file can be downloaded.

These scam emails can be identified by the following characteristics:

• Misspellings, formatting errors and bad wording of the message and subject.

• The sender’s email is not official and may have endings like ‘br’ (eg: belonging to Brazil) instead of the official ‘es’ that the email should end with.

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 exot­

ic ingredients.

With so many incredible options 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 sec ­

ond highest mention. This market is one of the most popular 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.

Credit: CeltStudio/Shutterstock.com.

BE ALERT: Fraudulent emails are circulating.

Village complex on sale in Galicia.

Credit: Idealista.com

Inmate escapes

ALTHOUGH his freedom only lasted a matter of hours, an inmate managed to escape from Valladolid prison on his third attempt in the last six months. He was recaptured by the Guardia Civil as he attempted to make his way to Valladolid’s Villanubla airport.

Santiago GS was convicted of domestic violence for mistreating his parents. The 34­year­old had a restraining order in force against him from his family. He also reportedly has a history of assault on police officers.

As revealed to a local newspaper, the prisoner made his bid for freedom on Sunday, December 18. He scaled a six­metre (20ft) concrete wall and somehow managed to get through the barbed wire on the top. From there he jumped into the parking area below.

His absence was not detected until after dinner, at around 7pm, when the warders did their

HEALTH workers organised a major protest in Madrid on Sunday January 15, demanding an end to cutback and privatisation of healthcare in the region.

Tens of thousands of people marched to the centre of the Spanish capital stating that the conservating regional government is destroying the public healthcare system.

Credit: ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock.com

rounds to close the cell doors. Santiago GS was eventually picked up later in the evening.

According to union sources: “They arrested him 10 kilometres from the jail, near the Villanubla airport. He had a fractured and wrist, and was transferred to a hospital in Valladolid where he underwent surgery.”

Health workers protest

People dressed in white coats walked the streets banging drums and chanting “Cutting public health is criminal.”

The protest was organised after primary healthcare in the autonomous community has been facing major pressure due to lack of staff or re­

sources, for several years now.

Due to this reason, areas such as hospital emergencies are now overwhelmed with patients in several hospitals.

The protesters claim the regional government favours private health and is trying to dismantle the public system.

New visa

By Imran Khan

A NEW visa introduced in Spain promises to make this country one of the best destinations in Europe for digital nomads.

As a part of the Spanish ‘new ‘Startup Act, this visa aims to make Spain an attractive prospect for startups, digital nomads, and investment, by eliminating red tape and increasing flexibility.

Citizens from the UK as well as other non­EU countries, working for foreign companies or clients can now choose to temporarily live in Spain, without the need to apply for full work permit.

They will now be only required to provide proof of their employment, qualification, and experience, in order to qualify for the visa.

The visa will be initially valid for a period of one year.

PRISONER: Had to evade the barbed wire.

What info is held?

A NEW website has been launched that allows residents in Spain to access all the information the government holds.

According to a post by Moncloa on Saturday, January 7 the new website, carpetaciudadana.gob.es also provides access to all departments within the administration.

Users of the site can check their information, carry out procedures and submit requests. Access is also made available to ongoing consultations, pending notifications, notices and alerts.

To access the site and your information you will need a @Clave pin, which you can now also obtain through a video call. To find out more you can:

• Visit the Cl@veInformation portal.

• Call 060.

• Or leave a message at Inbox.

If you have studied in Spain you will also be able to access all your nationally registered qualifications through the site.

The new site makes contact with the government a whole lot easier. There is a useful FAQ and a chatbot to help you.

IT’S no secret that Spain is one of the most exciting destinations for tourists, but the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation recently selected three towns for its ‘Best Tourism Villages’ ranking, more than any other country.

The list, released back on Tuesday, December 20, selected Rupit in Catalonia, Alquézar in Aragon, and Guadalupe in Extremadura for recognition in its prestigious list of best villages for tourism. The towns selected must meet a tight criteria and assessment from an independent Advisory Board on aspects including sustainability, health and safety, governance and cultural and natural re ­

Village victory

sources.

All three of the Spanish towns have rich medieval histories, striking architectural characteristics, and have branched out in rural tourism in recent years to offer experiences including wine and food tours, camping opportunities and outdoor activities.

The most recent rankings selected 32 towns from 18 countries for the award.

Representatives from the towns are invited to collect a prize at a global awards ceremony in Saudi Arabia from Monday, February 28 to Tuesday, February 29.

The medieval town of Alquézar has been chosen.

Photo: Jorge Argazkiak / shutterstock.com

THE Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, will receive 225 Ukrainian soldiers and combatants who will receive training in Spain over the next few weeks, at Torrejon Air Base in Madrid.

Of the total number of Ukrainians arriving in the country, 198 soldiers, mostly mobilised civilians with no previous military experience, will take part in a basic combat training

Ukrainian soldiers

module to be held at the Toledo Infantry Academy. They will be accompanied by seven other troops who will participate in support tasks for the contingent.

This is the second batch of Ukrainian personnel to be trained at this centre, following a first module held between November and December for 64 troops.

The other 20 Ukrainian military personnel will take part in a basic course to familiarise them with the Hawk anti-aircraft system, of which Spain has donated six launchers to Ukraine. This two-week training will take place at the 74th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment in El Copero (Sevilla).

The Toledo Training Coordination Centre is designed to provide training for rotations of around 400 Ukrainian military personnel every two months.

Antarctic research

THE 36th Spanish Antarctic Research Campaign is hosting 26 scientific projects, in which more than 230 people are participating, including scientists, technical and logistical support staff.

The projects cover disciplines as diverse as glacier dynamics, invasive species, rock biometeorisation, volcano geochemistry, penguin ecology and biogeography.

The oceanographic research vessel (BIO) Hesperides will develop a project focused on the

THE world champion shooter and marksman

Jorge Ballesteros has died aged just 39 according to the Spanish Federation of Olympic Shooting (RFEDETO).

The Federation confirmed the death of the national policeman and the most successful shooter in Spanish history, on Wednesday, January 11.

In addition to winning the world championship achieved in 2017, he also won three European championships, six Extreme Europe Opens and 17 Spanish championships.

The cause of death is unknown and is cur-

atmosphere-ocean relationship of aerosols, in addition to providing logistical support to several of the scientific projects being developed at the bases, one of them on benthic ecology that includes diving activi-

Shooter dies at 39

rently under investigation after he was found injured inside his car outside the shopping centre of La Vaguada (Madrid).

He was transferred to the hospital where he passed away.

The Federation said that Ballesteros came from the most distinguished family of shooters and represented Spain a little over a month ago at the World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.

ties.

In addition to the Spanish projects, in which scientists of other nationalities are participating, logistical support will be provided to projects in Chile, Germany, Portugal, Canada and Colombia.

The Hesperides is currently providing logistical support to three scientific projects that need to develop their activities in the environment of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Several projects are expected to develop their activities in non-permanent camps, mainly in the Byers Peninsula international camp maintained by Spain on Livingston Island, a two-hour sail from the BAE Juan Carlos I.

Scientific projects.

Image: Spanish Government / Science and Innovation

Tax freedom day – how much of your income do you lose to tax?

How long does it take to earn money for yourself instead of the taxman?

The Institut Economique Molinari publishes an annual study comparing the taxes payable by the average wage earner across the 28 EU member states (now EU plus the UK), measuring how many work days each year are devoted to paying taxes. While it focuses on wages and the tax and social security employees pay, it illustrates the general tax burden of each country and how they compare to each other. Even if you are retired, you are still faced with tax on savings, investments and pensions.

The study calculates a “tax liberation day” for each country - the date on which an employee has earned enough to pay off all taxes for the year. It identifies the average “real tax rate” for typical workers in each country (gross salary minus tax liabilities).

By Brett Hanson, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks

Cyprus had the earliest date with 15 April and Austria the latest with 18 July.

Spain According to the study, Spain’s tax

the rankings. Spanish employees worked for 158 days of the year just to pay their tax bill.

The average gross salary in Spain is €34,988, but after the real tax rate of 43.2%, workers are only left with €19,874 to spend on themselves.

The UK

According to this study, the UK’s tax freedom day came as low as fourth, landing on 14 May, with a real tax rate of 36.71%.

However, many think tanks undertake their own research to calculate their country’s tax freedom day, using different methodologies. While the Institut Economique Molinari looks at income tax, social security contributions and VAT, the UK’s Adam Smith Institute (ASI) measures the entire tax take, including taxes that do not come directly

2022 date more than three weeks later, on 8 June. This is a week later than in 2021, and the latest date since reliable records began in 1995.

The Adam Smith Institute expects the UK’s tax freedom day to continue to fall later in the year - and this was before the Autumn Budget with its various measures to increases taxation.

What does this mean for taxpayers?

Ageing populations put pressure on pension and healthcare spending for governments, as there are fewer younger workers paying taxes to pay for these benefits. And the Institut’s study found that in 10 of the 34 countries looked at, more than 20% of the population is now over age 65, and most the other countries are expected to face the same problem by 2050. As it is, currently only 43.63% of EU citizens are in the

cuts, especially since the pandemic created additional budget worries for governments, which are also now dealing with the cost of living and energy crisis.

There are often steps you can take to lighten your tax burden, especially on your capital investments and pensions. While we all have to pay our share of taxes, cross-border taxation is highly complex; do not risk getting it wrong or paying more than you have to. Take personalised, specialist advice on the compliant tax mitigation opportunities available in Spain and the UK - you may be surprised at how you can improve your tax situation.

Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice.

You can find other financial advisory articles by visiting our website here

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 re -

Facing justice

mained 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.

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. 873,932

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 Madrid’s social service system.

is the most visited town along the Costa del Sol

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.

Dire conditions exist in Syrian refugee camps.

Photo: mehmet ali poyraz / shutterstock.com

Malaga

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!

Age in Spain. www.ageinspain.org Email: info@ageinspain.org - Tel: +34 932 209 741

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 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.

Plane sailing

Shopping spree

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 supermarket 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.

BUDGET AIRLINE: Ryanair dominated the Spanish market.

Credit: Markus Mainka / shutterstock.com

Means of payment in Spain. How to pay in the Notary’s office. Public deed. Banker’s draft. Cash payment. Legal advice by Spanish Lawyers.

THERE are many deeds that can be signed at a notary’s office. Deed of sale. Mortgage loan. Acceptance of an inheritance. Marriage agreement. Deed of donation. Etc. However, deeds in which a payment is reflected (such as

the purchase of a home, for example) are subject to the fulfilment of certain requirements. We are talking about the identification of the means of payment. That is, how the payments are to be made in front of the Notary.

In today’s article we analyse the regulations applicable to the means of payment in Spain, and we resolve some of the most common doubts raised by this issue.

Different payment methods: cash, bank transfer, banker’s draft, etc.

Generally speaking, the means of payment that can be agreed between the parties could be classified as follows:

1. Cash payment.

Law 7/2012 of October 29, for the prevention and fight against fraud, introduced a series of limitations that have led to this type of payment to fall into disuse. When one of the parties is a businessman or professional, it cannot be paid in cash more than €1,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency. If the person involved is neither a professional nor a businessman (and, in addition, has no tax domicile in Spain) the maximum amount to be paid in cash will be of €10,000.

2. Banker’s draft or similar drawing instrument.

Bearer cheque, which may be cashed by the person who brings it to the bank. Banker’s draft, when it is the bank that signs and pays the cheque. Nominative cheque, when it includes the details of the beneficiary, who is the only person who can cash it.

3. Bank transfer. These can be national, international, etc.

Notary Act and Notarial Regulations: The Identification of the Means of payment is mandatory by Law.

The obligation to identify the means of payment in Spain is laid down, among

others, in Articles 24 of the Notaries Act and 177 of the Notarial Regulation. It can be summarised as follows. The notary is obliged to identify: 1. When the money is received (before or at the time of signing). 2. The exact amount that is paid. 3. The form in which the payment is made.

Whether a banker’s draft or a bank transfer is used, the notary must incorporate testimony. In other words, a copy of the cheque or proof of the bank transfer must be attached to the deed. In addition, the account numbers from which the money originates and to which it is destined, must be clearly indicated too.

Prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.

In order to prevent money laundering and combat ter­

rorism, a multitude of laws, orders, etc. have been issued in recent years. Order EHA 114/2008, Law 10/2010 of April 28, Order ETD/1217/ 2022, etc. In all of them, the parties involved in the transactions (notaries, registers, credit institutions, buyers, sellers, etc) are obliged to document and declare the entry and exit of amounts of money exceeding €10,000, movements inside Spanish national territory above €100,000, etc.

Conclusions

The means of payment in Spain is one of the most important parts of deeds involving an economic transaction. For example, in sales and purchases. If you have any questions on the subject, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will study your case and offer you expert advice.

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

Carlos Baos (Lawyer) - White&Baos Tel: +34 966 426 185 info@white-baos.com White & Baos 2022 All Rights Reserved.

Unstoppable

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 series of books surrounding Holocaust survivor memoirs. His latest book ‘Unstoppable’ is an epic biography about Siggi Wilzig that reads like a modern ­ day David ­ andGoliath adventure. This story details how a Jewish teenager survived the Holocaust and later went to America where he built an oil and banking empire.

Regarding the book, the author said: “Siggi B

Wilzig, born Siegbert Wilzig, was a survivor of the Holocaust. While American 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 deported 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 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.”

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 Exchange ­ listed 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 ‘Holocaust ­ era survivor’ instead of ‘Holocaust survivor’.

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

Image: Joshua M Greene

A World Record

AS announced by Guinness World Records on Friday, January 13, Prince Harry’s controversial, tell ­ all memoir ‘Spare’ has become the fastest ­ selling non ­ fiction book of all time. It reportedly shifted a massive 1.43 million copies during its first day on sale in the UK, US, and Canada.

This record was previously held by Barack Obama for his fourth book in 2020, titled, A Promised Land. It sold 887,000 copies on its release day.

‘Spare’ was launched in the US with a print run of two million copies, and a second print run has now been scheduled in order to meet the huge demand. These superlative sales figures for Harry’s book are made even more impressive when considering the fact that it was leaked five days early in Spain.

This meant that most of the revelations contained in the pages ­ including details of Harry’s drug use and a fight with his older brother Prince William ­ made global headlines days before the book officially hit shelves on January 10.

Light boards launch in UK

MONDAY January 16 was supposedly the saddest day of the year, the so-called Blue Monday, a time when the serotonin levels of people in northern Europe are at their lowest.

But this year help was at hand with Saatchi / Saatchi and vitamin supplier Solgar having united to fight the ef-

fects of Blue Monday by installing light-emitting electronic billboards across the

Andrew Tate assets seized

THE National Agency for the Management of Seized Assets in Romania is said to have taken possession of assets worth more than €3.7 million belonging to Andrew Tate.

According to a news source on Monday, January 16 more than 29 moveable assets along with sums of cash were taken into custody over the weekend following raids on a number of properties. The assets include a number of luxury vehicles and watches.

The goods removed from homes in Bucharest are said to have been transported to a safe storage facility.

Tate, who appeared in court last week, lost an appeal challenging his 30-day arrest warrant with the judge saying he and his associates should remain in custody whilst the investigation continued.

Romanian police say they are continuing their investigations and are building their case against the Big Brother contestant. Tate, who has a considerable following on social media, is wellknown for misogynistic remarks and hate speech.

country.

The boards, which were installed in Birmingham, Manchester and London are said to be like giant SAD lamps that help to raise the mood of those who are exposed to their light.

According to the local press, the boards emitted their rays between 4 and 8pm, with a message on the boards inviting people to stay and bask in the light.

The concept of Blue Monday has no scientific basis but is thought to have been dreamed up as an advertising headline by a travel company some two years ago. But for many Blue Monday is real, with money running tight before the next payday and following the highs of Christmas and New Year.

Blue Monday

Image Vetre / Shutterstock.com

Never to be freed

By Peter McLaren­Kennedy

JUSTICE Secretary Dominic Raab has told the mum of murdered toddler James Bulger that his murderer Jon Venables may never be freed under his new parole plans.

A news source reported on Monday, January 16 that Raab told Denise Fergus that his reform bill would see people like Venables never freed.

Having spent another Christmas without her son, Fergus said that keeping reoffenders like Venables in jail: “Would be historic.”

The news comes as Professor Paul Britton, the forensic

psychologist who worked on the case in 1993, shared details with Denise that she had not heard before.

Speaking to the Mirror she said: “For 30 years there were lots of details about James’s death that I have wanted to avoid, but I finally felt strong enough to hear it.

Venables is a persistent reoffender who is currently serving a new sentence. Raab is said to be included in his reform bill “two strikes and you stay in.”

Venables and Thompson were convicted of murdering James 30 years ago after they took the two­year­old from a shopping centre in Liverpool.

Services at a standstill

ROYAL MAIL has said that a cyber incident affected their international services and was prohibiting them from despatching items abroad.

According to a news source on Wednesday, January 11 Royal Mail said it was facing severe disruption to its international export services.

The company said that a “cyber incident” had affected the service, but no further details were given.

A statement issued by the company said: “We are temporarily unable to despatch items to overseas destinations. “Some customers may experience delay or disruption to items already shipped for export. “Our import operations continue to perform a full service with some minor delays.”

An investigation into the problem is underway with external experts having been called in to assist. Issuing an apology to customers, Royal Mail said that it was doing everything possible to get the service back and running as soon as possible.

8 million visitors, Barcelona is the most visited city.

ROYAL MAIL: Doing everything possible to return services to normal.

Credit: Shutterstock.com/Eyematter

Ukraine tanks

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 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.

News of delayed operations, bed blocking and overcrowded accident and emergency departments have all contributed to the swing to­

Private health preferred

wards 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 saying: “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 in­

8 million visitors, Barcelona is the most visited city .

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.

surance as a priority.

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.

Private healthcare.

Image Vitalii Vodolazskyi

Spain and Portugal

CASTILE-LEON in Spain and the north and centre of Portugal are set to intensify their relationship. The aim is to create a space for collaboration that transcends national, regional and institutional borders, involving the different actors of cross­border cooperation.

The aim is to achieve greater coordination and articulation between the entities working in the border area and the public authorities in charge of administering a specific territory.

ITALIAN wine experts have railed against a ruling by the European Commission giving Ireland permission to publish grave warnings about alcohol on wine bottles. The decision announced on Thursday, January 12 went ahead despite backlash from eight EU member states.

Irish authorities announced the measures in June 2022 which will see health warnings placed on labels on alcohol products including wines, beers, and spirits. The labels will warn consumers about the effects of alcohol on the

Portugal–Spain relations describe relations between the governments of the Portuguese Republic and the Kingdom of Spain. The two states make up the vast majority of the Iberian Peninsula and as such, the relationship between the two is sometimes known as Iberian relations.

The news comes not long after Spain and Portugal confirmed their commitment to putting forward a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

War on wine

liver, for pregnant women and cancer risks.

Although Ireland is not a main importer of Italian wines, the Italian Agricultural Association, Coldiretti are concerned about the “dangerous precedent” saying “it risks opening the door to other legislation capable of negatively influencing consumer choices.”

Government agricultural ministry representative, Luigi

D’Eramo, similarly expressed concern at the measure, saying that drinking wine and beer should not be compared to other harmful practices like smoking, or stronger alcohol like spirits.

D’Eramo highlighted the significance of wine in historic Mediterranean culture and added the labelling decision “risks damaging a leading sector of our agriculture and food system”.

King of Greece

Betty Henderson

THE former king of Greece, Constantine II has died at the age of 82. Representatives announced he passed away in a private hospital in Athens after suffering from a stroke on Tuesday, January 10.

King Constantine was born in 1940 to Princess Frederica of Hanover and Prince Paul. The family has links to many European royal families, including Constantine’s second cousin King Charles III of the UK, through his uncle, Prince Phillip, the Danish and Spanish royal family, through marriage.

Constantine acceded to the Greek throne in 1964 and as a young king and Olympic gold medallist in sailing, he was originally popular. However, his direct involvement in the country’s political system, including bringing down a popular prime minister saw him lose support.

The remainder of his reign was marked by other turbulent events, until he was eventually ousted in 1973 by a dictator. Constantine spent 14 years in exile, mainly in London.

Despite the country becoming a republic and very low public support for a monarchy, standing at around ten per cent, Constantine still called

MORE than one million tonnes of rare earth minerals were uncovered by Sweden’s national mining company, the LKAB on Thursday, January 12. The deposit has been described as the largest mine of rare earth minerals in Europe.

The discovery was made next to an existing LKAB ironore mine in Kiruna in the north of the country.

Astonishing discovery

The minerals are likely to be lucrative for Sweden as they can be sold for use in manufacturing. The rare minerals are crucial for the technology industry where they are used in products including computers, speakers, and vehicles.

Europe does not currently

mine rare earth minerals, instead importing them from China so the discovery could be transformative to the electronics industry. LKAB CEO, Jan Mostrom described the current situation as “early stages,” but said that the discovery was significant.

himself king and his children princes and princesses, to wide public disapproval.

The former Greek monarch was godfather to Prince William, he was also a distant relation.

Photo credit: William & CatherinePrince And Princess Of Wales (Via Facebook)

Arts Society

THE Arts Society Marina Alta will hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting on Thursday, February 2, at Salones Canor, Teulada.

Immediately following the meeting will be the Arts Society’s first presentation of the new season. Doors open at 9.30am for registration, the AGM begins at 10.15pm and the presentation at 11.00am.

Coffee will be available prior to the meeting for members and guests. The presentation will focus on the extraordinary talents of John Singer Sargent narrated by Brian Healey.

John Singer Sargent was an American expatriate artist, considered the leading portrait painter of his generation. He created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolours, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings.

Few artists can match the achievements of this American artist who trained in Paris and spent much of his life depicting the world of the Belle Epoque, from leisurely days on the Grand Canal, to the society women of New York.

For details of membership opportunities please contact Maggie by email at mb.marinaalta@theartssociety.org. or for more information Linda by email at sc.marinaalta@theartssociety.org

Freestyle event

FEBRUARY 4 is World Cancer Day and the Alfaz branch of AACC (Alicante Association Contra Cancer) has organised an event to show support for the organisations and volunteers who work with cancer patients.

Normally the AACC organise a walk or run or even a marathon, but the charity wants all the local residents and supporters to be able to take part. Many are too old or infirm to take part in an exercise so the charity has decided to organise a freestyle event.

A route from Church Square in Alfaz to Forum Mare Nostrum is a route that is neither too busy nor too far and can

be travelled any way you like. The dress code is informal, sporty or national.

Inscriptions begin at 10.00am in Church Square. A donation of €5 will be requested (children free).

The event is so freestyled you can set off anytime you like after 10.00am aiming to get to the Forum no later than noon where basic refreshments will be available.

AACC hopes to see as many of their international community as possible.

For more information email: pamalfaz@hotmail.com or brgoldi@gmail.com

Don Giovanni

OPERA fans will be delighted to hear that Costa Blanca Tours are organising their next trip to Valencia Opera House to watch Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

John Giovanni is an Opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart’s outrageous comedy tells the tale of an incorrigible young playboy who blazes a path to his own destruction in a single day.

Based on the story of ‘Don Juan’, Don Giovanni follows an irresistible (yet irresponsible and amoral) youth who is loved by women almost as universally as he loves them.

The opera is on March 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at €117 (which includes the coach fare).

There is a limited number of tickets available to us, so bookings will be allocated in order of receipt.

To reserve your tickets please email: info@concertscostablan ca.com with the following information; name, number of seats required, mobile number and bus pick­up point: 1. Alfaz (Forum), 2. Moraira (outside La Senieta), 3. Javea ( Bus Depot), 4. Mas y Mas (N332) north of Gata. You will then be sent confirmation and bank payment instructions.

Animal blessings

THE Sant Antoni festival comes to Teulada Moraira on January 27 and 28.

The events will begin on Friday, January 27, at 6pm, with the parade of the pine tree of the Sant Antoni bonfire from Avenida Santa Catalina Avenue to the town hall square.

On the Saturday at midday, there will be a gathering of animals in the town hall square, which will parade to Plaza La Creu for the blessing of your furry friends at 1.00pm.

AACC: The event is to show support for the organisations and volunteers.

Image: Kim7 / Shutterstock.com

Rabbie Burns

IF you are looking for an evening of good lighthearted fun in celebration of the life and works of Rabbie Burns, the great Scottish poet, then put a note in your diary for Thursday, January 26.

The Ermita de San Josep (on CV745 near La Fustera) is having a traditional celebration of the life and works of Rabbie Burns at 6.00pm.

There will be a traditional haggis supper with dessert, a tot of whisky for the toast followed by much dancing and laughter! A refreshments bar will also be provided.

Admission is by ticket only at €15 . Please email x19x02x98x@yahoo.co.u k or phone 607 706 904. The event is being organised to raise funds for the Costa Blanca Anglican chaplaincy.

THE first meeting of 2023 for the Marina Alta Costa Blanca Floral Club is on Thursday, January 26.

The Club looks forward to welcoming international florist David Arrieta. David, who originates from South America, before coming to live locally held demonstrations and workshops mainly in the USA and the Americas, where he was in great demand and held in high esteem.

Floral Club meetings are held at the Salon de Actos, La Senieta, Moraira, where there is plenty of parking in the adjacent large free car park. Doors open at 2.15pm and the demonstration begins at 3.00pm.

Entrance for members is €7 (memberships are now due) and entrance for visitors is €10.

If you have never been to one of the Club’s floral demonstrations January is the ideal time to come along and enjoy an afternoon of floral entertainment when

Floral fun

first­time visitors can take advantage of a one­off offer of free entrance.

For further information visit the website marinaaltafloralclub.com, contact Pat on (+34) 622 921 812 or Christine on (+34) 602 246 546.

MUSICAL fans will be delighted to hear that ‘Sounds Familiar’ are tackling a wide range of musical styles in its latest production.

They will be performing a staged concert of musical theatre called Musicals Tonight at the new Teatre­Auditori in Beniarbeig on Thursday, February, 23.

The show features excerpts from My Fair Lady, Evita, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret and Sunset Boulevard to name just a few. The show also includes a section taken from the Monte Python show Spamalot, with the Knights of the Round

Sea and sky

THE beauty of Costa Blanca’s sea and sky is brought to you by artist, Lanie Geldert in her Solo Exhibition ‘Cielos y Playas’. The exhibition has been organised by the Casa de Culture in Calpe and will be held at the Ajuntament Vell de Calp, C/. Francisco Zaragoza 2, in Calpe’s Historic Centre.

Entry is free and the opening times are Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00am until 2.00pm and then 4.30pm until 7.00pm from February 2 until February 28.

A former architect and interior designer from California, Lanie moved to Altea in 2016 and was so enchanted by her surroundings that she has been painting impressionistic land and seascapes of the area ever since.

Lanie is contributing 10 per cent of her painting sales to Gravity Wave, a social impact company working alongside Calpe Council and the Fishermen’s Guild to fight against plastic in the sea.

For more information, visit the website www.rabbit earsstudio.com , or contact Lanie Geldert by email: lanie.geldert@gmail.com or phone on (+34) 682 419 741.

Sounds Familiar

Table and the Lady of the Lake.

The group will also be reprising a couple of their very popular songs from the musical comedy ‘Something Rotten’ which they first performed in 2019.

Doors will open at 7.30pm with the show itself starting at 8.00pm. Tickets are priced at €14 and can be obtained online at https://www.philipashley. com/boxoffice.php or by calling (+34) 965 581 483

.

Teatro­Auditorio is located at Avenida de la Rectoría, 24, 03778 Beniarbeig, Alicante.

DAVID ARRIETA: Is held in high esteeem.

Image: Marina Alta Costa Blanca Floral Club

MUSICALS TONIGHT: A wide range of styles.

Image: Sounds

Collecting Heartbeats

THE exhibition Collecting Heartbeats can be seen at the Casa de Cultura in Alfas del Pi until January 31.

The exhibition has been created by the charity Corazon Expres, it is a project with which they intend to make themselves known through using art. The exhibition shows stories that inspire people to move forward and change their world, all of the stories are real.

With this project, Corazon Expres wants to pay tribute to all those people from the

Charity through art.

Image: Casa de Cultura / Alfas del Pi

community who have trusted them in times of difficulty and those who collaborate with the association to make their work possible. Corazon Expres is a charitable association that seeks to connect resources with the need, uniting

people and entities with an altruistic social vision and families in an emergency situation. They collaborate with hospitals, with departments of social services of various town halls and with different associations, in addition, to providing advice and help to the elderly and people in emergency situations. It currently has more than 60 volunteers. The Casa de Cultura is located at Placa de la Cultura, 1, 03580 L’Alfas del Pi, Alicante. For more information call: (+34) 965 889 423.

Open mic night

ARE you brave enough to showcase your talent?

Cazzie and Doug are looking forward to welcoming you to the open mic night on Thursday, February 23 hosted at La Bresca Restaurant, Els Poblets.

A full restaurant menu will be available from 7.00pm until 8.30pm.

A variety of musicians will perform on

the night. Entry is €3 and includes raffle prizes and nibbles.

Hygienic cover microphone covers are provided but you may bring your own. There is no facility for backing tracks.

For more information or to book a table, email expat_dragon@hotmail.com or call Cazzie on (+34) 633 488 448.

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.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

By Clinica Britannia

For a youthful skin

MANY of us, regardless of gender would love to have a more wrinkle free and youthful looking complexion staring back at us when looking in the mirror, but think this is only achievable with Botox and fillers, but this is not the case. A method now available is Platelet­Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, which give amazing results when used on both our skin and scalp.

The PRP is derived from taking a sample of our blood, the growth factors, and bioactive proteins, which initiate and speed up tissue repair and regeneration, are extracted with use of a specialised machine. This rich platelet plasma is then injected back into the desired treatment area of the patient, there is no risk of cross infection.

Try to stop smoking

PRP can help improve our skin texture and tone, minimise the appearance of pores, smooth wrinkles, and fine lines, lighten pigmentation, treat acne scarring and stretch marks. It’s a perfect treatment for patients who want their complexion to look its best.

These injections when used on the scalp stimulate new follicular hair growth and can help to counteract male or female baldness and hair thinning.

STOPPING smoking is one of the most popular goals going into a new year, but it also one of the hardest goals to achieve. But the good news is it’s absolutely possible to quit smoking and to feel so much healthier!

Today we’re sharing tips from people who have successfully stopped smoking to help you get started!

1. Know your reason

If you try to stop smoking without knowing why you want to, chances are your heart isn’t in it, and it will be easy to break your goals. The first step in stopping smoking is finding your rea­

son to stop. It could be to cut your chances of lung cancer or to protect your children.

2. Make preparations

It’s true, some people swear by going ‘cold turkey’, but for most smokers this will just cause painful withdrawal symptoms. Instead plan to cut your nicotine intake in advance.

3. Nicotine replacement

It’s likely your body has become hooked on nico ­

tine. If you’re finding it impossible to come off cigarettes, look into alternatives like nicotine lozenges, patches or even prescription medicine.

4. Support system

If you’re serious about stopping smoking, you need a solid support system around you. Tell friends and family about your decision and try to create distractions, but avoid triggering scenarios where you’ll feel tempted to smoke.

3 Foods for a better sleep

IF your New Year’s resolution involves getting better quality sleep, we have just the thing for you. Recent research by experts at Best Mattress Brand has revealed the three foods you need to be eating to get a better night’s sleep.

As complaints of insomnia increase globally, researchers took on the project to investigate solu tions to the issue. Today we’re bringing you the three foods that you should try to start 2023 feeling wellrested and energetic!

1. Tart cherries

time, and resulted in less awakenings during the night.

As well as being refreshing, drinking a glass of tart cherry juice can increase your overall sleep time.

The studies revealed that tart cherries have higher concentrations of melatonin than other foods, a hormone that promotes healthy sleep. Consuming two cups of tart cherry juice decreased time to get to sleep, increased overall sleep

2. Kiwi Kiwi is well ­ known for its numerous health benefits, thanks to its high content of nutrients and antioxidants and nutritional value. The fruit is also being credited as inducing sleep quicker. Its high antioxidant, folate and serotonin content mean eating a kiwi an hour before sleeping can help you fall asleep faster.

3. Banana As well as being a delicious bedtime snack, bananas contain valuable nutrients which improve sleep quality. Eating a banana boosts tryptophan, serotonin, magnesium, and potassium which all contribute to a great night’s sleep.

Contact your Aesthetic Specialist to check if this treatment is suitable for you.

PRP THERAPY: Can help to improve skin texture and tone.

FIND A REASON: If you’re committed to stopping smoking, the process will be much easier.

Photo credit: Andrey_Popov / shutterstock.com

Photo credit: artem evdokimov / shutterstock.com

82Spain is the country with the third highest life expectancy in the EU after Italy and Sweden.

By Clinica Britannia

Bringing back your smile

DO you have damaged or missing teeth, that make you feel self ­ conscious when smiling or eating?

Then book an appointment with your Dentist as a dental crown or bridge could be just what you are looking for.

Missing or damaged teeth are not only aesthetically unappealing but can cause you pain, emotional distress, speech difficulties, issues with chewing and unnecessary wear and tear on your natural healthy teeth.

A dental Crown is a tooth­shaped cap that is placed over a natural tooth, that has been cracked, broken, or weakened by large cavities or

fillings over time, restoring the tooth’s shape, size, strength, and appearance.

It is also very important to fill in the gap left by missing teeth, and dental implants are not always an option.

So therefore, a dental bridge can be a great way to restore and protect your smile. They are also a great alternative to partial dentures and

can help you eat, speak more effectively and give you back that confident smile.

Contact your Dentist now as dental restorations such as crowns and bridges can give you back the beauty and function of your smile, quickly and efficiently at a cost­effective price.

Benefits of a foam roller

IT can be difficult to stay motivated with fitness with our busy lives, getting injuries and other commitments. But today we’re sharing a piece of equipment that will transform your fitness routine and leave you feeling ready to take on the world. The foam roller will soon be your best friend!

What is it?

A foam roller is a cylinder piece of equipment coated with foam and sometimes a textured surface which is used on muscles after a workout or as part of a stretching routine.

Foam rolling works by relaxing tension in tissue surrounding muscles, helping the nervous system to relax your muscles.

What are the benefits?

The primary benefit of foam rolling is reducing muscle pain. Foam rolling

can ease sore muscles and reduce inflammation.

Physiotherapists also believe foam rolling could help to increase range of motion and mobility when used with static stretching.

Another benefit of foam rolling is as a stress reliever. Like other methods of stretching, foam rolling can be a way to re­

lax by releasing tension in muscles, leaving you feeling more mobile.

When should I foam roll?

Physiotherapists recommend adding foam rolling to your stretching or yoga routine, particularly after exercise. Its relaxing qualities mean it’s the perfect evening activity before bed.

Visit your dental team for advice.

FOAM ROLLING: A great way to ease inflammation and muscle pain all over your body.

Photo credit: stockfour / shutterstock.com

Advertising Feature

Dave’s Plumbing and Property Maintenance

DAVE’S Plumbing and Property Maintenance brings 44 years of experience to customers in El Albir, Alicante and the surrounding areas.

That experience took Dave all over England, Scotland and Wales where he worked on a huge number of projects for private clients and local authorities. He also carried out work for the leisure and hospitality industries before moving to Spain more than six years ago.

Now Dave takes great pride in delighting customers in his local area with his high quality of workmanship and competitive prices.

Plumbing is the core service that he has been offering all his working life. He offers a complete refurbishment service for your bathroom and kitchen.

Dave will ensure that your project runs smoothly and comes in on time with the minimum disruption to your daily life. He can

also fix your drainage and blocked waste units.

But it’s not just plumbing that Dave has in his repertoire. Other works carried out include general property maintenance, fencing, gates, and repairs and refurbishment of properties. He can also tile your walls and floors, install decking and decorate your house.

If that’s not enough, Dave can also refurbish your caravan. In fact, the list of services just goes on and on.

Dave boasts that no job is too small, so why not put him to the test!

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.

How to identify fur balls

ALTHOUGH weather has been milder this winter than in previous years, many of us are still suffering from colds, and the same is true with our pets. But it is sometimes

difficult to tell when your pet is sick, and when it is suffering from a different issue.

Coughs aren’t as common in cats than other pets, so it’s normal to be

a little concerned if your cat is coughing, but don’t panic! Today we’re running through some advice from a vet to help you tell the difference between fur balls and a

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

cough in your cat.

Fur balls

Cats spend most of the day grooming themselves, so fur balls are the most common cause of coughing. Coughing from fur balls normally comes in dry, short bursts with your cat hunching over to vomit out the fur ball, before returning to normal. Similar symptoms are also visible when your cat consumes other foreign objects by mistake, like grass or dust.

Infection

Coughs can also be caused by bacteria or viruses. These coughs usually present along with other symptoms including mucus, sneezing, teary eyes. In more serious cases, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and a fall in energy are sometimes seen, in which case you should visit your vet.

Advertising Feature

Like us, cats and dogs can suffer muscle injuries

Dogs can hide pain.

MUSCLE injuries are sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat. The signs and symptoms of muscle injuries in dogs can vary depending on the severity of the problem and also on the individual animal. You may not notice minor sprains and strains at all, and many dogs are pretty good at hiding the fact that they are in pain and not seeing any problems. In advanced cases there is lameness, pain, weakness, decreased range of motion, firmness throughout the muscle, and usually a characteristic gait. For its diagnosis, it is often necessary to examine it by a veterinarian specialist in traumatology . X­rays help little.

Other more advanced tests such as ultrasound and MRI are necessary. High­field magnetic resonance imaging is the most used in human medicine and is now available in veterinary medicine (www.resonanciavet erinaria.es).

For the treatment physiotherapy is necessary and many times surgery.

Give a dog a bone

Dogs and bones are an inseparable combination, but follow these steps to avoid creating a choking hazard.

Animal blessings

A FASCINATING Christian holiday in the last week saw thousands of people living in Spain take their pets for blessings. People all over the country took part in special events with their pets to mark Saint Anthony Abbot’s feast day.

DOGS and bones are a combination as classic as bread and butter, but did you know that bones can actually be harmful for your pet’s health? Today, we are sharing vet­approved tips to help you keep your dog safe while enjoying a favourite snack.

Be aware

Firstly it is crucial to be aware of the risks of giving your dog a bone. Bones can break and get lodged in your dog’s throat, so brittle bones should be avoided.

Bones can also carry nasty bacteria which can give your dog an infection, so it is important to choose a fresh bone for your dog, or freeze it to avoid infections.

Portion control

Controlling the size of your dog’s bone is crucial. Bones that are too small like chicken bones should be avoided, but lamb or beef bones are ideal. It is also important to give your dog raw bones with some meat still on the bone to avoid creating a choking hazard.

Healthy habits Dogs should always be supervised when chewing a bone, and should be encouraged to bite a bone rather than putting it all in their mouth. If you have any concerns, consult with your vet before giving your dog a bone.

Who is Saint Anthony Abbot?

This saint, known as Sant Antoni or San Antón throughout Spain is known as the patron saint of animals, despite being lesser­known than Saint Francis.

How did people celebrate?

Lots of cities and towns throughout the country held festivals in honour of their pets during the last week to mark the religious holiday on Tuesday, January 17. Activities included public animal blessings by priests, huge pet parades and farmers market stalls.

Photo credit: Pawel Ratjar / shutterstock.com

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BMW iX – controversial and daring!

byMarkSlack

WHEN BMW launched their rather futuristic, and not uncontroversial iX, the

Marmite looks certainly drew a fair share of haters from the car Twitterati. While some loved it many took the opposite view. With such a brave stylistic decision it’s nice to

see that the iX has gained much praise, and deservedly so in many re spects.

While the exterior style may still polarise opinion the spacious feeling interior garnered almost universal approval from the start. Unsurprising since it’s a premium, clean and modern design. I’m not a fan of the trend for digitalisation but BMW manage to produce some of the most useable and intuitive control systems. You still have to dive into menus to operate most functions, but it manages to make life much simpler than most and it becomes familiar remarkably quickly. Seat controls are on the door panels and buttons,

traditional handles, open the doors.

On the road the iX handles remarkably well considering it’s a large and heavy car, and even though my test model was the smaller battery pack it still produces mighty impressive acceleration. It’s also a very quiet and refined car, even allowing for the fact it is electric there’s little in the way of road or

problem, it is two ­ fold; range and price. The smaller battery has a quoted range of up to 262 miles, which in reality means a limited long­distance ability, but in larger battery form the range is much more useable at 380 miles.

Price is probably more of a factor in that the iX is very expensive before you even begin to look at options.

The range starts from €82,533/£69,905 and it’s not difficult with options to

tip the €118,070/£100k mark. Indeed the top iX model starts at €134,499/£119,225. Opening the doors and the rear tailgate may go some way to explaining that price level as you can see the carbon fibre structure of the iX. Will people buy it? Despite the somewhat limited range on the entry model, manufacturers must despair at the lamentable public EV charging infrastructure, and that high price tag, this is an immensely driveable, likeable and impressive machine. I suspect it will always be a limited sight on our roads but one which has already started to attract more admirers and as halo cars go the iX is pretty special and rather daring.

FUTURISTIC iX: A pretty special and rather daring vehicle.

Captain Cristiano

CRISTIANO RONALDO is set to put on the captain armband for a friendly match between an all­star Saudi Arabian side and PSG today, Thursday, January 19. The fixture will be the player’s debut and first international test with players from his new league.

Ronaldo will captain an all ­ star XI, consisting of

Death of champion jockey

THE world of horse racing was left in shock on Saturday, January 14, at the news of the death of champion jockey Avery Whisman at the age of only 23.

He passed away early on January 11, but no cause of death was confirmed. One report though claimed that the rider had been suffering from a “prolonged struggle with the unrelenting physical and mental demands put on riders,” as reported by a UK news outlet.

“He had the biggest heart. He wanted everyone to know they were loved and cher­

ished by him. We are not ashamed of what happened. We hope this tragedy can help someone else. We never want anyone to go through the pain we are suffering,” his sister Emma told bloodhorse.com.

In his short three­year career, Whisman rode in 810 races and won 90 of them. His last competitive outing was in Pennsylvania last August, at the Presque Isle racecourse.

Riding ‘Simply Furious’ to victory in the £80,000 Karl Boyes Stakes at the same track in July, the young jockey set a new track record

players from Al­Nassr and Al ­ Hilal as they take on French team Paris Saint Germain, who are currently on a tour of the Middle East.

After announcing his move to the Saudi team at the end of December, Ronaldo has not yet had chance to show off his skills in a new league.

The match will see the Portuguese star take on his long­time rival, Lionel Messi, in his first game since signing for Saudi team AlNassr. Ronaldo often came up against the now World Cup champion in matches in the Spanish La Liga when they played for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Saudi officials from Al­Hilal are reportedly drawing up an offer for Messi, hoping to resurrect the yearslong rivalry between the two players, but Messi is expected to remain at PSG.

RONALDO: To play his debut match with his new team.

Photo credit: Cristiano (Via Instagram)

It’s a knockout Football transfer news

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.

THE 22­year­old Ukrainian international, Mykhaylo Mudryk has joined Chelsea FC from Shakhtar Donetsk.

In the latest transfer news from the English Premier League, 22­year­old Ukraine international Mykhaylo Mudryk has completed his move to Chelsea FC. After seven seasons playing for the top Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, the winger moved to Stamford Bridge for a reported £88.5 million.

Mudryk’s signature had been wanted by bosses in another part of London where Arsenal appeared to be firm favourites to sign the talented young player. Chelsea are said to have outbid Mikel Arteta’s club to land him at the last minute.

He underwent a medical on Sunday, January 15, before signing on the dotted line to spend the next seven seasons with Graham Potter’s side.

A mouthwatering £100,000a­week deal was apparently of­

fered to the player by Todd Boehly’s outfit. As a result, Mudryk becomes the secondmost expensive transfer in the club’s history.

Graham Potter is struggling to get results with his side this sea­

son with the Blues languishing well below the top six in the table. This latest signing will give him some hope of turning things around and also shows he has the support of those who matter.

Directors told to stay home

EVERTON FC said that their directors were told to stay away from Saturday’s game citing a “credible threat to their safety.”

The announcement came on Saturday, January 14 with fans planning a protest following last week’s loss and recent dismal performance.

The club said that security advisors told Chairman Bill Kenwright, Chief Executive Denise Barrett­Baxendale, Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Grant Ingles and Non­executive Director Graeme Sharp to stay away from the ground and the area.

A statement by the club said: “The board members received the instruction following malicious and unacceptably threatening correspondence received by the club and increasing incidents of antisocial behaviour ­ including targeted physical aggression ­ at recent home matches. This is an unprecedented decision for Everton Football Club ­ never before has our entire board of directors been ordered not to attend a match on safety grounds.”

Without a win since October, fans are said to be furious and had planned a sit­down protest at the ground. The club was due to play bottom of the league Southampton.

4.0

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

Ukrainian footbller Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Credit: Wikipedia - By SoccerStart - Own work, CC BY-SA

KSI: Secured victory in the ring once more.

Photo credit: KSI (Via Instagram)