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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
COSTA CALIDA • EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
CELEBRATIONS
LOS AlCAZARES recently enjoyed the festivities of the National Day of Spain on October 12, also known locally as the Day of Caldero. This celebration co incided with another significant event, the Day of Los Alcazares, on October 13. The town marked the occasion with their annual custom of preparing and then eating Caldero, the famous rice dish of the Mar Menor, right on the beach. Approximately 180 local groups, or ‘peñas’, set up their tables and chairs along nearly four kilometres of shore line. The town's bars and restaurants’ terraces were also bustling, all gath ered to share in the celebration. This year held particular significance as Los Alcazares commemorated 40 years since gaining its municipal autonomy. The younger members of the com munity enjoyed children’s activities at Plaza Manuel Floreal Menárguez. Here, they created artwork and con tributed to a municipal crest. Nearby, bouncy castles and trampolines de lighted children. Musical enthusiasts were treated to fantastic live shows including the trib ute performance by ‘El Gato López’, honouring the legendary SKAP group
Pink October
MAZARRON is turning pink in support of the fight against cancer. The town council of Mazarron, in partnership with the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), is ac tively participating in the ‘Liv ing Is Urgent’ awareness cam paign during Pink October. This initiative aims to unite the community in the battle against cancer. The programme has various events throughout the month, including yoga and relaxation classes, and a ‘March for Life’ to show soli darity and support for cancer patients. The month concludes with an annual dinner to raise funds for cancer support and highlight the importance of early detection and proper medical care. For more information check out the town hall’s social me dia accounts.
FREE • GRATIS
Roman Project Image: Facebook/Los Alcázares Town Hall
Issue No. 30 (1998) 19 - 25 October 2023
SUN, SAND, AND SMILES: Los Alcazares’ Day of Caldero unites the community.
at the Plaza Manuel Floreal Menár guez. Vintage car aficionados were in for a treat as the Club Ruta del Sol dis played classic vehicles, some over a century old. The festivities included a caldero competition, dominos, and parchís tournaments, a documentary titled ‘Threads of Memory’, awards presen tations, a concert, and the timeless pleasure of enjoying chocolate with churros.
IN a significant development on October 11, the Govern ing Board of the Cartagena City Council decided to par ticipate in the annual 2 per cent Cultural Programme ini tiated by the Spanish govern ment. They proposed a new phase for the archaeological project at the Roman Am phitheatre, with an estimat ed value of €2 million. The project’s objectives include consolidating the double ring of the bullring’s northeastern sector, expanding the exca vation site, and further inte grating it into Cartagena’s cul tural heritage offerings. The mayor of Cartagena, Noelia Arroyo, expressed the
council’s commitment to se curing the necessary funding for the excavation. The pro ject, planned for 2024 and 2025, will be financed 75 per cent by the Cultural Pro gramme and 25 per cent by the city council. To demon strate their dedication, the lo cal Governing Board has also approved a budget allocation of €500,000 for 2025. The Roman Amphitheatre is in its third excavation phase, funded through a €2million agreement, which includes contributions from the city council and Ministry of Trans port, Mobility, and Urban Agenda. The aim is to open the monument to the public.
Image: Cartagena.es
NEW PHASE: Unearthing Cartagena’s rich past.
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ON October 20, Lorca will host a FallWinter Fashion Show for Children and Adults. Or ganised by the Lorca Historic Centre Com mercial Association in collaboration with the town council’s Department of Com merce, the event aims to shine a spotlight on local businesses in the Historic Centre, reviving the area through engaging activi ties and community involvement.
Fashion Show The event kicks off at 7.30pm at the for mer Agricultural Chamber building, featur ing both adult and children’s fashion collec tions, jewellery, and more, provided by local businesses. Approximately 30 partici
pants, including children aged five to 12, will strut their stuff. Beyond the fashion, attendees can enjoy discounts at Café Jarique and Bar Restau rante El Sibarita. Those at the show will re
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ceive discount vouchers for participating stores the following week, including La Cigüeña, Joyería Pérez, La Varita Mágica, La Ormiga, Mösha, and Enrredos. Santiago Parra, Lorca’s Commerce coun cillor, underlines the town council’s dedica tion to supporting local initiatives and en courages everyone, residents and visitors alike, to join the event and to shop local!
Community support ADAPT Theatre Group is dedi cated to fostering a strong con nection with the community. They achieve this through their annual pantomime perfor mances, which not only show case elements of the local lan guage and culture, but also supports those in need. One of their notable com munity initiatives involves gathering school materials for children from families who may struggle to afford them. Las Esperanzas, a school in San Pedro, has been a close partner in this project. Addi tionally, the students from Las Esperanzas actively participate
Spreading joy and supporting a good cause.
in ADAPT’s pantomime perfor mances, honing their English language skills and dancing abilities. This year, eight enthu siastic youngsters will join the cast of ‘Ali Baba and the Four ½ Thieves’, taking the stage at La Casa De Cultura in San Pedro Del Pinatar. The pantomime is
on November 30, December 1, 2 at 7pm, and a matinee show on December 3 at 12.00 noon. Tickets, priced €4, are avail able at several locations, in cluding Bar Amigos in San Pe
Berg
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Image: Adap t/Eric
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dro, Mail Pinatar (SEUR) in San Pedro, and the Animal Amigos Charity Home Shop in Los Alcazares.
Awareness ON October 16 the local board of the Spanish Association Against Cancer took a proac tive step to inform and raise awareness about breast can cer. They set up an informative booth near the San Pedro del Pinatar weekly market, coin ciding with the leadup to World Breast Cancer Aware ness Day celebrated every year on October 19. In alignment with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations, this initia tive aims to promote early breast cancer diagnosis and in crease women’s access to screenings and treatment. The mayor of San Pedro del Pinatar, Ángela Gaona, along with the Health councillor, Va lentín Henarejos, joined the lo cal board’s volunteers to em phasise the importance of breast cancer prevention and early detection. When detect ed early, breast cancer can be successfully treated in up to 90 per cent of cases. The local board also seized the opportunity to sell com memorative items like bracelets and tshirts, as well as providing further information.
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NIBS EXTRA Cave rescue EMERGENCY services were called to rescue a hiker by helicopter who had suffered an ankle injury in one of the caves at Cabezo Gordo, Torre Pacheco. Swift action by the rescue team ensured the hiker’s safety and a suc cessful return.
Swift asylum ALGERIAN immigrants spent less than 72 hours in Carta gena’s CATE before swift transfer to Murcia and near by locations. Jupol reported some were left in Lorca. The Spanish government’s Dele gation praised the efficient handling of illegal immigra tion procedures.
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Copa de España THE Region of Murcia is set to establish itself as the hub of Spanish futsal with the up coming Copa de España, a significant event presided over by regional President López Miras. The competi tion, taking place in Cartage na from March 21 to 24, 2024, will mark the return of this prestigious tournament to Murcia after a 23year hia tus. López Miras acknowl edged Spain’s global stand ing in futsal and the pres ence of two prominent teams, Jimbee Cartagena and ElPozo Murcia Costa Cál ida, along with elite wom en's teams La Boca Te Lía Al
Image: carm.es
GLOBAL STANDING: Futsal fever returns to Murcia.
cantarilla and STV Roldán. This initiative is part of a comprehensive agreement between the Regional Gov ernment of Murcia and the
Royal Spanish Football Fed eration, facilitating the host ing of seven toplevel nation al competitions over the next two seasons. The re
gion will welcome Copa del Rey, Copa de la Reina, and Supercopa de España in the 2024/2025 season, with sub sequent events to follow.
Piano apology A PIANIST seeking harmony with his neighbours sur prised them with a heartfelt note. TikTok user @velpister, known for his music, discov ered his playing had unwit tingly disturbed them for over two years. His story went viral as it showed his desire to just be heard.
Best creator THE content creator, known as Xuso Jones, from Murcia, retains his position in Forbes’ ‘Best Content Creators 2023’ list for the second year. With 1.3 million TikTok followers and a successful podcast with Ana Brito, Xuso’s influ ence continue to flourish.
Art exhibition A CAPTIVATING exhibition in Mazarron by a local artist beautifully encapsulates the essence of the coast. The ex hibition runs until November 6, open from 7pm to 9pm weekdays, at the Universi dad Popular de Mazarrón.
Theatre comp THE 19th National Amateur Theatre Competition at El Paco Rabal Theatre in Águilas, begins on October 21 with ‘Othello’, with addi tional plays scheduled. The Culture councillor highlights the competition's challenge of selecting four plays from over 90 submissions.
Scooter crackdown
Success story
THE municipality of Murcia is set to introduce ground breaking regulations, bring ing electric scooters out of a legal grey area. Key provisions include a minimum age of 15 for scooter riders, a helmet recommendation (manda tory on interurban roads for riders 16 and over), and strict traffic rules. Users will be required to follow road regulations, such as using bike lanes, signalling turns, and yield ing to pedestrians. Parking will be in desig nated bicycle spaces, and
SALAZONES GARRE based in San Pedro del Pinatar, has received prestigious recognition at the 2022 ‘Alimentos de España’ awards. These accolades, presented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, celebrate excellence in the agrifood sector, honouring the dedi cation invested in every food product. The judging panel commended Salazones Garre for its innovative spirit, extensive history, and commitment to empowering women and young talents within the industry. Such accolades not only highlight the compa ny’s remarkable contributions but also exemplify its dedication to promoting diversity and fostering talent. Salazones Garre’s success story serves as an inspira tion for businesses in the sector, emphasising the im portance of innovation, perseverance, and inclusivity. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional quali ty and dedication of the company’s team, making them a shining example within the Spanish agrifood land scape.
while liability insurance isn’t compulsory, it is encour aged for accident coverage involving third parties. The new rules are part of a comprehensive effort to establish an organised and integrated urban trans portation system, catering to pedestrians, motorists, public transportation users, and scooter riders. It also seeks to reduce traffic in residential areas and address environmental concerns. An information campaign will educate the public about the key provi sions.
Murcia protest IN Murcia, a rally organised by ‘Palestina Li bre’ saw participants protesting against Is rael’s actions in Gaza and advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people. The march, which began in San Agustín Square and concluded at the Palacio de San Esteban, aimed to voice concerns about the Pales tinian civilian population caught in the con flict. Protesters chanted slogans condemning the ‘genocide of the Palestinian people’ and ‘apartheid and ethnic cleansing.’ Banners with messages like ‘Gaza resists’ were
raised, highlighting solidarity with the Pales tinian cause. Speakers, including Paca Labaña, urged protection for innocent civilians during con flicts and called for a focus on combatants. The protest’s goals included advancing the return of Palestinian refugees, the libera tion of Palestine, and the release of Pales tinian political prisoners. A participant, Amhala, highlighted the impact on civilians and children, emphasis ing the need for responsible actions by both sides.
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Autumn market ON Sunday, October 22, the popular Glori eta de Águilas will host a traditional au tumn market, organ ised by the Tradition and Folklore Associa tion of Águilas in col laboration with the Department of Cul ture. Félix Cano, the project’s promoter, emphasised the goal of bringing the re gion’s most promi nent smallscale arti sans with highquality craftsmanship to Águilas. The event will also feature a clay workshop for chil dren. Exhibitors will be open from 9am to 2pm, during which time there will be live demonstrations. This market promises a unique opportunity to discover and pur chase exceptional, lo cally crafted goods, while also engaging in handson activities. Join the fun on this vibrant autumn day in Glorieta de Águilas to celebrate the rich tra ditions of the region and support skilled artisans. Don’t miss this fan tastic cultural and shopping experience!
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Top for tourism Smart water use IN 2023, the Region of Murcia is celebrat ing a remarkable year for tourism, with recordbreaking numbers indicating a thriving industry. Carmen Conesa, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports, chaired a meeting of the Tourism Board to discuss upcoming projects for 2024. During this year, high occupancy rates during the October bank holiday weekend (October 1215) confirmed the region’s continued popularity as a travel destina tion. Regional accommodations, including hotels and nonhotel options, have experi enced strong growth. From January to Au gust, the region welcomed 1,237,555 trav
ellers, a 5.3 per cent increase compared to 2022, with 3,907,656 overnight stays, a 4 per cent yearonyear increase, surpassing the national average. Notably, the October bank holiday weekend saw impressive occupancy fig ures, with Costa Calida hotels reaching a remarkable 93 per cent occupancy rate. Looking ahead to 2024, the region is preparing for the Jubilee Year in Caravaca de la Cruz, set to attract over a million pil grims, and actively diversifying its tourism offerings to ensure yearround activity. The future looks promising for the Re gion of Murcia, as it builds upon its tourism successes in 2023.
PROVERB OF THE WEEK “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Meaning when you are in a different place, try to follow the customers of the people who live there. This saying is thought to originate from Saint Ambrose, the former Bishop of Milan, who was shocked to find that the clergy would not fast on Saturdays, as was normal in Rome.
THE Region of Murcia showcased its leader ship in promoting smart water use dur ing the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels. Murcia joined a con sortium with other re gions to discuss ‘Pro viding the Right Skills for a WaterSmart So ciety,’ emphasising the need for training and cooperation among hydraulic ser vice operators to en sure efficient water management. Pedro Angosto, the Director of the Inte grated Centre for Agri cultural Training and Experiences (CIFEA),
highlighted the chal lenge of training in highly technical water management and the importance of continu ous skill enhancement in the regional water management ecosys tem. The gathering stressed the need for tailored education pro grammes and adapt able training methods in a changing world. During the Commit tee of the Regions’ plenary session, an an nual report was re leased, outlining key challenges and solu tions for European re gions and cities, in cluding climate change, energy crises,
rural development, and food security. Adrián Zittelli, rep resenting the Region of Murcia, highlighted the importance of strategic foresight in regional development planning, anticipating scenarios, and har nessing technological opportunities.
4,000+ Arabic words have been absorbed into the Spanish language.
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19 - 25 October 2023
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High-speed action THE weekend of October 14 and 15 in Mazarron wit nessed the thrilling Copa del Rey de Moto Nautica event at the Puerto de Mazarron circuit. This highspeed spec tacle featured pilots challeng ing the waves and pushing their skills to the limit, mak ing it the most prominent moto Nautica event on the Mazarron coast. The compe tition served as both the Co pa del Rey for jet skis and the final round of the Spanish National Championship. The event garnered signifi cant attention and visitors from across the country, showcasing its importance in the national ‘motonáutica’ scene. Over 157 participants HISTORY is marked by deci sions that later require correc tion, considering their effects and advancing knowledge. In the 1990s, the Flood Defence Plan altered the Segura Riv er’s course, reducing its mean ders to mitigate flooding risks. However, recent studies re vealed that these actions, though wellintentioned, had significant environmental and hydrological drawbacks. Due to these findings, one of the main goals for the River Se gura is the restoration of the ancient ‘Meandro Chico del Vivillo’ in Rincón de Beniscor nia, promoting flood terrace drainage. The Municipal Devel opment Agency (Urbamusa) is finalising the revised project,
Image: Facebook/Mazarrón Town Hall
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RACING ON THE EDGE: Mazarron’s spectacular Motonáutica event.
registered across various cat egories, making it the sea son’s largest event. The event was organised by several notable organisa tions, with attendance from key figures. The competition included three categories: Circuit, Rallyjet, and Off shore. The Copa del Rey win
ner was determined in the Offshore race, while the Spanish Championship had separate classifications for each stage. The event sched ule included practice ses sions, competitions, and tro phy presentations, featuring top Spanish and internation al motonáutica athletes.
River correction based on recommendations from the Segura River Basin Authority (CHS). While this caused slight delays, the pro ject is set to conclude by year end, meeting a 2025 imple mentation deadline. This initiative, funded by Next Gen eration funds, focuses on restoring 81,700 square me tres, improving environmental conditions, and reestablishing the river’s natural course. The restoration will also open public access to the riv er, possibly introducing the municipality’s first river beach, albeit with some con ditions. Overall, the project
seeks to create a more re silient and ecologically sound river ecosystem, incorporat ing lessons learned over three decades.
Making history MARÍA DEL MAR CARRIL LO has made history by becoming the new Presi dent of Real Murcia, re placing Felipe Moreno. This transition is a signifi cant moment for the club, as Carrillo is the first woman to lead the insti tution in its over 100year history. She had previously served as the vice presi dent, and her journey to the presidency began in October 2021 when she became the first female board member. Felipe Moreno’s goal of promoting gender di versity in the club was re alised through Carrillo’s appointment. This achievement mirrors his previous experience at Leganés, where his wife, Victoria Pavón, presided over the club. Real Murcia has wit nessed several changes in its presidency in recent years, but Carrillo’s ap pointment marks a new chapter. This change marks a significant milestone in the club’s history.
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MURCIA’S councillor for Culture and Identity, Diego Avilés, in collaboration with the councillor for Education and Citizen Services, Belén López, has unveiled the in augural ‘What A Family Fest’ (WAFF), set to take place on November 4 at the Cuartel de Artillería’s Patio de Armas. The WAFF promises to be an extraordinary family event, catering to all age groups, with music as its central theme. It offers a unique opportunity for chil dren and families to im merse themselves in a rich cultural experience, provid ing a platform for young minds to engage with di
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Family Fest Image: Wikipedia/Athenea1512
Murcia lines up another family event.
verse cultural references and experiences in the company of other families and children. Councillor Avilés emphasised the im portance of such events, stating, “From the Murcia City Council, we believe it’s crucial for the youngest members of our communi
ty to have access to festi vals like ‘What A Family Fest’. This event aims to en rich the range of family en tertainment options avail able, nurturing a shared cultural experience for all.” For more information keep an eye on their web site cuarteldeartilleria.es.
Guardian Angels CARTAGENA celebrated the feast of the Guardian Angels ‘la festividad de los Ánge les Custodios’, the patron saint of the Na tional Police. In a special event held on Calle Carmen, they honoured the remarkable work done by the City Council’s Social Ser vices, in partnership with organisations like Maritime Rescue, the Coast Guard, and Sea Red Cross, in assisting migrants.
This collaboration highlights their dedi cated efforts in aiding those in need. The event serves as a reminder of the es sential role these groups play in the com munity, showcasing the strength of unity in addressing social challenges. The commit ment to humanitarian service and safe guarding lives remains a shared mission in Cartagena.
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Equestrian heritage
Image: carm.es
CRUCIAL ROLE: Celebrating equestrian excellence.
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Military parade proposal
THE Region of Murcia boasts a rich equestrian heritage, with over 2,400 equine farms and a popu lation of more than 10,000 horses. What’s particularly fascinating is that half of these horses are purebred Spanish, a testament to the region’s dedication to preserving its equestrian traditions. Sara Rubira, the Minis ter of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, recently participated in the launch of the Interna tional Horse Fair of Lorca (Fericab). This year’s event featured over 140 horses from 80 farms, both na tional and international. Rubira emphasised the importance of Fericab within the national eques trian circuit, showcasing the region’s commitment to equestrian excellence. Furthermore, the Region of Murcia is proud to have the Integrated Centre for Training and Agricultural Experiences (Cifea) in Lor ca, home to a pioneering genetic bank of Spanish horses. This initiative plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality and health of the stallions. Fericab not only cele brates the equestrian her itage but also serves as a driving force for the re gion’s rural development and tourism. It reaffirms the vital role of the eques trian sector in the Region of Murcia, offering a unique blend of tradition, tourism, and economic growth.
THE Cartagena Local Government Board, led by Mayor Noelia Arroyo, has approved the 2024 Tax Regulations. De spite a challenging economic landscape marked by rising prices, the government is committed to maintaining and en hancing deductions for the benefit of families and business es. Nacho Jáudenes, the councillor for Finance, emphasised the government’s dedication to fiscal stability, with a focus on lowering taxes for both businesses and families. In this ap proach, the goal is to leave more money in the hands of citi zens, rather than increasing their tax burden. For businesses, these measures include reduced taxes on property and new incentives for creating jobs and industries. Families will see continued relief with frozen municipal fees and public prices, despite an expected 5.9 per cent inflation rate in 2024. The Tax Regulations also extend discounts for inheritance taxes, and property taxes for large families (families with three children or more), and provide new incentives for prop erty owners who rent their homes for social housing. There are also measures to support tourism and reduce costs for businesses.
SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR has secured its firstever Green Flag Award from Ecovidrio, a nonprofit organisation dedi cated to glass recycling and environmental sustainability. Among six regional munici palities vying for this presti gious recognition, San Pedro del Pinatar achieved the high est score, an impressive 1,078 points, highlighting its com mitment to glass recycling and combating climate change. This Green Flag award acknowledges the con
The town’s proactive mea sures have yielded substantial results. Between June and August, San Pedro del Pinatar collected 164,521 kg of glass waste, an increase from the previous year. This ecofriend ly approach has led to an envi ronmental benefit equivalent to the carbon dioxide absorp tion of more than 100 trees over a century. San Pedro del Pinatar’s dedication to sus tainability sets an inspiring ex ample in the fight against cli mate change.
LAST Thursday, on October 12, Spain celebrated its National Day. On that day, a military parade was held by the Armed Forces in Madrid, accompanied by traditional ceremonies honouring the National Flag and commemorating the discovery of America in 1492. This year’s celebration featured a heartwarming surprise. Just moments before the 11am military pa rade, a soldier named Fernando Almagro from Abarán in Murcia, who served in the Air Force, took a significant step in his relationship with Alejandra Mármol. Kneeling before her, surrounded by his regi ment, he looked into her eyes and asked, ‘Will you marry me?’ This touching moment was shared on so cial media by the State Defence Department, quickly garnering over 30,000 views and 374 likes. This heartwarming proposal touched the hearts of all the onlookers who witnessed this emotional mo ment just before the parade began. In the video, you could see uniformed comrades cheering, ‘Say yes!’ as the couple shared a kiss. Every celebration has its unique anecdotes, and this time, it was a military proposal that stole the show, making that National Day parade even more memorable.
Tax reforms
Green flag certed efforts of the local gov ernment and dining establish ments, including restaurants, bars, and beachfront eateries, in recycling glass waste. It also addresses the growing glass waste generated during the summer tourist season.
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19 - 25 October 2023
AS part of the Torre Pacheco’s local festivities a parade that included a float competition took place on Monday, Octo ber 16. The streets of Torre Pacheco came alive with colour and imagina tion when they celebrat ed the ‘Coso Multicolour’ parade Torre Pacheco en joyed the artistry of danc ing groups and parade floats. ‘Los Makys’ won the top prize with their magnificent float honour ing Chinese culture, while ‘Fresquísimos’ took sec ond place with their de but ‘Alice in Wonderland’ float. ‘Los Pringaos’ im pressed with their eco friendly ‘El Bosque Ani mado,’ (living forest) earning the third prize. ‘Stars Majorettes’ se cured fourth place with a unique ‘Pin and Pon House’ float. ‘Cambio de Tercio’ enchanted the au dience with a ‘Wizard of Oz’ float for fifth place.
Image: Facebook/ Torre Pacheco Town Hall
Torre Pacheco fiesta
Captivating moments from the grand Coso Multicolour parade.
The parade highlighted the dedication of partici pants who crafted count less papier mâché flowers over months, blending tradition and festivity.
This event, a vital part of Torre Pacheco's Fiestas Patronales, celebrated the Virgen del Rosario and captivated both resi dents and visitors.
Catherine McGeer LES BALLETS DE TROCKADERO DE MONTE CAR LO, a New Yorkbased company founded in 1974, brought its unique blend of comedy and faithful interpretations of ballet and modern dance to the Víctor Villegas Regional Auditorium in the Region of Murcia. This marked their first performance in the region, captivating both dance enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The show combines the technical mastery of professional male dancers with humorous exag gerations of the quirks and flaws found in tradi tional dance. Notably, the company’s allmale cast takes on all roles, including swans, princess es, and Victorian ladies, emphasising dance as an art form. After pioneering the concept of dance parody and crossdressing, Les Ballets de Trockadero de Monte Carlo became a global sensation. Their tours have spanned over 35 countries and more AT the prestigious San Se bastián Gastronomika festival, Mohamed ElHandy, the grill master at La Tropical restau rant in Los Alcazares, clinched the top prize for the best grilled steak. In an astonishing twist, ElHandy emerged victo rious over seven other grill masters hailing from different corners of Spain during this storied competition. The contest, in its 14th year, brought together restaurants, grilling aficionados, and meat
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Global sensation Image: carm.es
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Celebrating dance with a playful twist: Les Ballets de Trockadero.
than 600 cities, including prestigious venues like the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Their remarkable journey in the world of dance has been documented in films and television appearances, reflecting their widespread popularity.
Top grill master suppliers, who faced the scrutiny of two judging panels one professional and one popular. Criteria included cooking technique, texture, flavour, and the quality of the meat chosen by each contes tant. The winner was deter mined by the combined as sessment of both panels. La Tropical’s owner, Juan
Carlos Méndez, expressed his astonishment at the victory, stating that they had been meticulously preparing the beef for a month. Competing against grill masters from Navarra, Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa, Granada, Álava, and Burgos. This remarkable victory is a testament to the wellknown restaurant in Los Alcazares.
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Atlantic storm set to hit Spain MANY places are experi encing a drop in tempera ture and that feeling will be more apparent with the arrival of an Atlantic storm in the coming days that is expected to make an im pact over the whole na tion, as reported by a news source. Yes, the rain has re turned to Spain with some light precipitation recorded over the weekend. Scat tered showers fell over much of the mainland on Saturday with a noticeable difference in the tempera ture in the north and east, whilst the Canary Islands remained hot with high temperature alerts still in place. That will change quickly with what is on the way as advised by weather expert Juan Jose Villena: “An Atlantic storm train is about to set course for the Iberian peninsula after a long time, you have to go back many months to find something similar heading
As we begin another week, moving closer to the end of the year, it is starting to feel more like autumn.
to our country. “We see three or four storms arriving, but we have to pay special atten tion to one of them, the one that could arrive dur ing the early hours of Tues day morning. A few days ago our weather modelling system gave it a ‘special’ significance label due to the subtropical aspect that it was taking on at times.” Villena continued on which locations will be most affected: “Everything points to the western areas of the main
land being the ones that will end up with the great est precipitation. “Some areas of the Pyre nees will also be affected. Rainfall will be less signifi cant the closer we get to the southeast of the main land. Taking all this into ac count, we should not be surprised by the significant accumulated rainfall ex pected in the west of the Andalucia region, the cen tral system, the Huesca Pyrenees and a large part of the northwest quadrant of the mainland.”
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Digital nomads embrace Malaga DIGITAL nomads are said to be flocking to Malaga for a lifestyle that is bet ter than the UK, but a lo cal warning has been sounded that everything is not well in the Andalu cian city. Economic activity is booming with Malaga only behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia in that regard but with rents increasing as well as the footfall of tourists, in line with new attractions, there is a balance to be found. Irish woman Tori Clin ton, aged 28, works re motely for a technology company from her cur rent base in Malaga. “Everywhere you look, there are people sitting with laptops,” she told a news source. “People think you are
much better off, not working, but I work bet ter in such a gorgeous environment. Clinton said it is hard to find a longterm rental apartment and pays €800 (£690) per month for a onebed room flat, which is ex pensive for Spain. Barcelona is the most expensive place to rent, followed by the capital. “I am happy to pay
35,000 the estimated number of prostitutes working in Spain.
€800 because I am so happy living here. I could see myself staying long term,” she continued. “Spain here in partic ular is not cheap. I am spending the same mon ey as I would be back in the UK. “But with the good weather, the lifestyle. There are so many things to do in the evenings. You are not going home at night to watch Coro nation Street. There is a better lifestyle.” The climate in south ern Spain and the cafe culture is an obvious at traction, whether for a holiday break or reloca tion but there can be a tipping point. That results in in creased prices, like rental costs, as well as other knockon effects.
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FEATURE
Linda Hall SPAIN is the second noisiest country in the world after Japan, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Traffic, building works and nightlife are singled out as the princi pal reasons why 70 per cent of Spain’s residents are subjected to more than the 65 decibels the WHO considers bearable. Thank you WHO, but you left out neighbourhood celebrations. As I write I have had to take shel ter from overarching, allencompass ing, inescapable, eartorturing noise at the back of this sturdy centuryold house. That is because they are hold ing another fiesta in the small town square overlooked by the room where I normally write. Although as the poet once said, “twas ever thus.” When we lived in an apartment on the seafront in Benidorm, we were far from the action during fiestas, but there was walltowall noise throughout the day and night. Upstairs neighbours, downstairs neighbours, next door neighbours, arrivals and departures, crying and laughter, squalling babies, shrieking children. You heard it all although
Photo credit: Pixabay/Surprising shots
Things ain’t what they used to be: Noise
BUILDING SITES: Music while you work essential.
like most of the Spanish people I know, my husband was, and is, ap parently impervious to noise. “People have got to live,” he’d shrug, and although I didn’t particu larly want any of them not to live, I would have preferred them to do so more quietly.
In those days you really could hear people emerging from Benidorm’s clubs and discos in the early hours of the morning singing, “’Ere we go, ‘ere we go.” And if dawn was breaking, the choruses would be interrupted by cocks crowing in smallholdings in the
nowobliterated Armanello district. After 30 years we moved from Benidorm to Altea, which was a rela tive haven of calm. Except for barking dogs. “I like to hear a dog bark,” Miguel our land lord said, which was just as well since everybody but us had at least one
dog, most of which were kept out side and all too often chained up. Sometimes they barked singly, sometimes in sequence and some times in raucous counterpoint. Ab sence of noise, I once complained to my husband, is a vacuum that the Spanish abhor and immediately do everything they can to fill. “That sounds about right,” he nod ded. He recalled how his father, a foreman on the building sites that were beginning to go up in Madrid, would ask workmen if they could sing when deciding whether or not to take them on. It they could sing, they’d get the job and, as he loved flamenco, if they couldn’t sing but could clap the right way, they’d still be taken on. Not that it was all singing and palmas though, as he insisted on good work and once sacked his own brother for turning up late. I thought of the fa therinlaw I never knew not long ago, as workmen removed the stuc co on a house on the other side of the square. No singing there or clap ping there, but they did have a blar ing radio. Did I say that things ain’t what they used to be? I take that back: they are.
14 EWN 19 - 25 October 2023
euroweeklynews.com
FEATURE
CHARGING DINERS FOR EYES BIGGER THAN BELLIES Emma Mitchell AN X (Twitter) user posted a photo of a restaurant sign warning of additional charges to the bill for customers whose eyes proved to be bigger than their bellies The sign, posted by @soycamarero who is the author of ‘I’m a waiter. The cus tomer is not always right’, advised customers that, “Leftover food on your plate is not included in the standard price. If you waste food, we will charge at least €5 addi tional to your bill.” https://x.com/soycamarero/status/1703418504349630626?s=20 His post has gained over 800 responses so far, and it seems that most are support ive of the €5 charge in one particular circumstance; the allyoucaneat buffet. A number of people replying said that they had seen similar signs in ‘free buffet’ restaurants and felt it was a good idea to deter greedy people from overfilling their
plates and then not eating it all. @Ninipd said, “In a buffet it seems fine to me, elsewhere at least you have to leave the option to take it home. If you are like me who can’t eat too much (some times too little, since there are things I don't process well) you should be given that option.” Another X user, @scolar64, said, “In a buffet it seems to me correct and even nec essary.” @sulako22 relayed a similar initiative they knew of, “In a Japanese restaurant near my house they have something similar. It is an open buffet and people ordered without any reason. Until they said they would charge 20 per cent more if there was a lot of food left over after ordering the crazy things they ordered. It had an effect!”
FOOD WASTE IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM
SPAIN’S RESPONSE TO FOOD WASTE
THE European Food Information Council (EUFIC) reports that one third of all food pro duced for human con sumption is wasted. Discarded food is defined in two ways, as food loss and food waste. Loss covers food that is lost from harvest through to production and waste covers food that is dis carded from the point of retail on wards, including what is thrown out by households or food service estab lishments. Other than the obvious disequi librium of wast ing a commodi ty that significant parts of the world are desperately in need of, food end ing up in landfill is terrible for the environment. The EUFIC reports that if food waste were a country it would be the third highest emitting one in the world.
DURING 2020, Spanish households threw away an average of 31 kilos of food per person at a cost to each per son of some €250 a year. The EU reports that a further 2.1 mil lion tonnes was thrown away by restaurants and food service. In total a staggering 91 kilos of food per person is wasted a year when calculating waste at every point of the supply chain. Spain has moved to tackle the food waste crisis with legis lation aimed at meeting its obliga tions under the EU Directive on waste. The legisla tion commits to reduce food waste gen eration by 50 per
Only China and the US produce more greenhouse gasses than our global food waste.
Paying for eyes bigger than belly. Credit: Image by Freepik
cent reduction per person at the household and retail consumption level and 20 per cent in production and supply chain level. Initiatives in the legislation include fines for super markets and restaurants who throw away food and the mandatory of fering of doggy bags for cus tomers to take home left overs.
16 EWN 19 - 25 October 2023
DENMARK Plant forward DENMARK is making history by becoming the first country to launch a comprehensive national action plan to boost its plant-based food sector. This initiative, championed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, aligns with global efforts to combat climate change through sustainable diets.
Embrace ChatGPT HIGH schools in Denmark are taking an innovative approach by embracing ChatGPT as a valuable teaching tool. While critics express concerns about potential cheating, Danish educators believe that openly discussing and incorporating the technology into lessons removes the allure of forbidden use and promotes it as a beneficial educational resource.
NORWAY
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EURO PRESS BELGIUM
Credit: Cannabis Pictures CC
Holy smoke MEMBERS of the congregation of a church in the Belgian town of Turnhout were surprised when the Chairman of the Church Board announced an unexpected discovery of 200 cannabis plants drying in their attic. Police later arrested two local men who were not members of the congregation.
Bed bugs BELGIUM Railways is now caught up in the bed bug hysteria and has issued instructions
EUROPEAN PRESS
IRELAND Cork triumph FOUR Irish students from Cork's St Vincent's school, inspired by their school's focus on mental health, developed 'Bongo Buddies’, a mental health app for young adults. Their creation won the top social impact award at the Technovation Challenge in California. They returned home with the honours on October 10 - World Mental Health Day.
Conor McGregor Drying cannabis. to its 800 cleaning staff on how to spot the problem on its trains, which will include the immediate removal of the rolling stock from service and cleaned with specialists squads brought in for large infestation.
GERMANY
FRANCE
IRISH MMA star Conor McGregor is set to expand his property portfolio with the acquisition of a pub in Dublin's Temple Bar. While the exact purchase price remains undisclosed, it is expected to be a multi-million euro deal. McGregor's wealth has soared, thanks in part to the €584 million sale of his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand in 2021.
THE NETHERLANDS
Haaland heroics
Expats in Germany
Louvre closed
Gender identity
ERLING HAALAND's remarkable brace propelled Norway to a vital triumph over Cyprus, breathing new life into their Euro 2024 qualification campaign. This stunning performance not only ignited Norway's hopes but also momentarily thwarted Scotland's path to the European championship, setting the stage for an electrifying qualification race.
GERMANY is home to around two million Polish expatriates, and a significant number of them are set to cast their votes in the upcoming Polish election. This increase has embassies and consulates preparing for an unprecedented turnout. However, concerns linger over whether all expat votes will be accurately tallied.
THERE were fears for the safety of the Mona Lisa as Paris's Louvre Museum and also the Versailles Palace, were evacuated on Saturday, October 14, after receiving bomb threats, although French Police decided that having undertaken security checks there was actually no evidence of any explosives on site.
THE Dutch Parliament is to consider a new proposal, presented on Coming Out Day October 11 which would criminalise gay conversion therapy with serious penalties for anyone offering and/or performing actions aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Those found guilty could face a year in prison or a fine of up to €22,500.
Travel disruption
Fatal trafficking
Big tip
SEVERE weather warnings have disrupted travel plans between Norway and Denmark, as Color Line, a prominent maritime connection, has cancelled all sailings. The impending treacherous conditions, highlighted by a yellow weather warning, have prompted safety measures to ensure the wellbeing of travellers on both land and sea.
TRAGEDY struck in southern Germany's Bavaria when a human trafficking vehicle claimed seven lives, including a six-year-old child. The van, with an Austrian licence plate, was crammed with 23 passengers, despite being registered for just nine. Federal police had tried to intercept the van before it careened out of control and overturned.
A CONSORTIUM of almost 2,500 French taxi drivers continue to fight American giant ‘mini cab’ service Uber and their latest claim is for €455 million as they argue that Uber, by not complying with French labour law is guilty of unfair competition, so each driver is claiming an annual €9,300 loss of earning for 12 years.
ITALY
PORTUGAL
FINLAND
Flag burning MANY people in the town of Urk had sympathy for the people of Israel and hung the Israeli Flag outside their properties, but police are now investigating reports of a mass burning of at least 20 of these flags which were removed from houses and set fire to close to a church in the town.
SWEDEN
Seagull invasion
New app
Pipeline sabotage?
No cash
VENICE'S Marco Polo Airport faces flight reroutes and delays due to an unexpected surge in seagull activity. The Italian airport is grappling with safety concerns as bird strikes risk passenger safety, leading to redirected flights and operational challenges. Authorities are working hard to find swift solutions in this unusual situation.
IF you are aged under 50 and have a mobile phone, the Portuguese government has introduced a special addition to the id.gov app so that those holding driving licences which are about to expire may renew them through their phones, to save all the hassle of doing so in person or via computer.
FINLAND suspects Russia attacked the Baltic Connector gas pipeline between Inkoo, Finland and Paldiski, Estonia. Finnish media reports suggest the damage “does not appear to be an accident." Finnish President Sauli Niinistö believes the damages result from “external activity." Repairs could take months.
OPPONENTS of the cashless society have discovered that according to the Swedish Banking Act, although cash is legal tender in Sweden and should be accepted everywhere, it is possible for restaurants and shops to legally post a notice on their premises stating that cash is not accepted.
Teacher appeal
Suspicious activity
Best hotel
DUE to the somewhat old fashioned appointment procedure of new teachers in Portugal, it is perfectly possible for them to be offered positions hundreds of kilometres away from where they live and in areas where starting salaries don’t match the cost of rent, hence the adopt a teacher appeal.
FOLLOWING the recent gas pipeline sabotage between Finland and Estonia, unusual incidents near electrical infrastructure, including a man photographing power lines, have left energy companies puzzled. Sightings of drones in parts of Finland have added to the unease. Various companies have reported data breaches and suspicious vehicles, intensifying vigilance over critical Finnish energy infrastructure.
READERS of Condé Nast Traveler were invited to vote for their favourite hotel in an annual poll. Fifty-two thousand responded and the Grand Hôtel Stockholm, the only Swedish member of the Best Hotels in Europe Club, was given the accolade of being named the best hotel in Northern Europe.
Roman holiday HELEN TAYLOR from England was removed from a Jet2 flight bound for Rome, Italy, due to concerns over her Type 2 diabetes symptoms. Despite explaining her condition and appearing fit, she and her husband were asked to disembark. Jet2 later apologised, offering a full refund as a ‘gesture of goodwill’.
NEWS
euroweeklynews.com
19 - 25 October 2023
Reaching new heights IN a spectacular show of resilience, Aena’s net work of airports in Spain soared to new heights in September 2023. The month witnessed a historic record as 27,548,232 passengers passed through their ter minals, marking a re markable 10.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022. Even more astonishing, it was a 1.5 per cent surge beyond 2019’s prepan demic figures, setting a new benchmark. During September 2023, Aena managed an impressive 225,183 air craft movements, show casing a 7.7 per cent year overyear increase. The cargo sector was equally vibrant, with a 14.6 per cent rise as 95,196 tons of merchandise took to the skies, compared to the previous year. Breaking down the pas
senger numbers for September, an astound ing 27,491,667 travellers explored the world. Among them, 18,971,609 embarked on internation al journeys, demonstrat ing a 12.7 per cent growth from the previous year, while domestic flights carried 8,520,058 passengers, marking a 6.8 per cent increase. Zooming out to the big ger picture, the statistics for the year’s first three quarters are equally im pressive. From January to September 2023, Spanish airports under Aena’s management accommo dated a staggering 216,647,764 passengers. This represents a signif icant 17.6 per cent in crease compared to the same period in 2022 and a resilient 1.3 per cent gain when contrasted with 2019.
The skies were equally busy, with 1,834,101 air craft movements record ed, a remarkable 8.7 per cent growth yearover year. Furthermore, 776,328 tons of merchandise took flight during this period, marking a 5.6 per cent in crease from the same pe riod in 2022. Notably, Adolfo Suarez MadridBarajas Airport took the crown for September 2023, wel coming 5,385,824 passen gers, a remarkable 12.5 per cent growth com pared to the previous year. Other airports weren’t far behind, with Josep Tarradellas BarcelonaEl Prat, Palma de Mallorca, MálagaCosta del Sol, Ali canteElche Miguel Her nandez, Ibiza, and Gran Canaria all celebrating im pressive passenger num bers.
FOR everything under the sun there is an influencer, and that includes paella. Paella is accepted as Spain’s national dish, but Alicante in fluencer Elena Vidal has urged the public to request rice “not paella.” In fact she put it more quaintly some days ago when she was photographed in Ali cante City with a placard that proclaimed, “Don’t ask por paella, ask por arroz.” Is there a difference? Alicantinos and Valen cianos will waste no time in saying there is. They’ll put you right, with lengthy technological, histori cal and gastronomical expla nations. These include the informa tion that rice dishes are gen erally made in a wide, shal low pan with handles at each end which is called una pael la in Valenciano. So, rather confusingly, is what’s created in it, hence the tendency to believe that anything made that way is paella. It isn’t. That right be
Photo credit: CC/Peachyeung316
When paella isn’t paella
REAL THING: An authentic paella Valenciana.
longs to paella Valenciana, a somewhat colourless combi nation of rice, chicken, rabbit, green beans (runner or French), a handful of butter beans plus previouslygrated tomato. Some cooks like to add artichokes when in sea son. Jamie Oliver might make something with chorizo and call it paella, and despite their protests, Valencianos would probably wolf it down happily while protesting that this is just a ricebased dish. It
might be cooked the same way, but it’s not paella, a concept that taps into a new sensitivity now noticeable in Alicante restaurants. Where not so long ago it would be commonplace to order paella and, above all, a paella Alicantina, a glance at the menu reveals nothing of the kind, although the client will find countless variations on Arroz a la Alicantina. Or, for those who want to argue, a paella by any other name.
EWN 17
FINANCE Shingles deal PHARMACEUTICALS giant GSK has agreed a mammoth deal with Zhifei, China’s largest vac cine company for the exclusive rights to distribute the London based company’s shingles vac cine. The firm explained to shareholders that the Shingrix agreement will bring in £2.5 bil lion (€2.9 billion) between 2024 and 2027.
Branches lopped SPAIN now has 17,889 bank branches compared with 18,008 at the beginning of the year, Bank of Spain figures re vealed. During the first half of the year, branches closed at the rate of one every two days de spite pledges to provide an in person service for the vulnera ble as well as residents in rural areas.
Fewer pubs FORTYFIVE London pubs closed during the first six months of this year, more than anywhere else in England, found a study by real estate analysts the Altus Group. In all, 383 pubs closed in the UK during this same period, almost as many as during the whole of 2022, when 386 pubs pulled down their shutters.
Record sales THE Eroski supermarket chain reported a record turnover of €2.56 billion and a €69.9 million profit for the halfyear ending on July 31, thanks to reducing the price of 800 products. The Corporacion Mondragon coop erative explained that 96.25 per cent of its revenues during this period were the result of gro cery sales.
Mind out MIND GYM training service owner Octavius Black lost £12 million (€13.9 million) when shares plummeted 37.8 per cent after a warning of ‘signifi cantly lower’ fullyear profits. March to September revenues fell to £21 million (€24.3 million) compared with £26.8 million (€31.03 million) during the same period last year.
euroweeklynews.com • 19 - 25 October 2023
STAT OF WEEK
€2.513 billion
net profits for Spanish multinational clothing chain Inditex between February and the end of July, an increase of 40.1 per cent on the same period in 2022.
Metro Bank rescue
Linda Hall INVESTORS shored up be leaguered Metro Bank with a £925 million (€1.07 billion) package late on the night of October 8. The rescue involves a £325 million (€376 million) capital raise, which will in clude £150 million (€173.6 million) in new equity from shareholders and debt refi nancing of £600 million (€694.6 million). Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal, will contribute most of the equi ty raise, via £102 million (€118 million) from his in vestment vehicle, Spaldy In vestments. Already Metro’s
Photo credit: CC/rodhullandemu
BUSINESS EXTRA
18
METRO BANK: The UK’s first new high street bank in at least 150 years.
largest shareholder, this now increases his holding from 9 to 53 per cent, giving Gilinski Bacal a controlling stake. Metro is also discussing selling up to £3 billion (€3.47 billion) of residential mort gages. The lastminute rescue arrived shortly after the Bank of England’s Pruden
AENA is launching plans to build hotels on land it owns adjoining MadridBara jas, BarcelonaEl Prat, MalagaCosta del Sol, Valencia and Sevilla. Last year, Aena’s commercial division contributed €1.243 billion, 29.4 per cent of its total earnings, compared with in come of €2.418 billion from its airports activities. First, however, before the project can begin, the publiclyowned Spanish multinational intends to select a consul tant to devise a strategy and business model to develop the future hotels over the next three years. Deloitte Financial, Catella Property, CBRE Real Estate, Horwath HTL and Sav ills España are currently in the running for the €1.26 billion contract. One of its
tial Regulation Authority (PRA) began approaching Santander, NatWest Group, Lloyds Banking Group, HS BC and JP Morgan for a po tential sale. Sources quoted in the Daily Telegraph maintained that the PRA had been seeking an “outright sale of Metro,” with “EY running enquiries while the PRA is
pulling the strings.” The bank’s problems be came apparent in Septem ber after PRA told Metro capital rules involving its mortgages would not be eased, with shares losing half their value in weeks. The crisis came to a head on October 4 when credit ratings agency Fitch put the bank on “negative watch” for a potential downgrade. Pressure increased still further owing to Metro’s need to refinance £350 mil lion (€404.86 million) by Oc tober 2024. Thanks to the October 8 deal, this dead line has been put off until 2028.
Aena looks to hotels Photo credit: CC/Gemmahz
AENA HEADQUARTERS: Airports operator will build hotels.
conditions will prevent the chosen com pany from taking part in the project’s subsequent phases with developers. Aena is looking for advice on the workings of the tourism sector and busi ness travel plus an indepth analysis of
accommodation tendencies and needs in areas adjoining Spain’s airports. It will also ask for a breakdown of the best type of offer to guarantee commercial and financial viability. Outside help from a hotel industry specialist will be vital in drafting the con tract conditions for developing Aena’s land, choosing associates and assessing offers, emphasised sources quoted in fi nancial daily, Cinco Dias. Aena also wants detailed information regarding the probable income per room in its future hotels, average length of stay, occupancy figures and potential rivals within a 10kilometre radius.
No damages
Iberdrola selling
Keep it in Europe
THE legal battle between the UK and Spain regarding the 2002 Prestige oil spill continues with a new ruling in the UK. A London judge, Christopher Butcher, has now ruled in favour of the British insurance company Lon don P&I Club (formally known as the London SteamShip Own ers’ Mutual Insurance Associa tion Limited). He upheld the in surance company’s appeal against a ruling by the La Coruña High Court which held it respon sible for €855 million in compen sation for the environmental disaster which devastated the Galicia coast in November 2002. The Spanish judgement was “irreconcilable with the English judgements,” the London judge maintained.
IBERDROLA is negotiating the sale of a 49 per cent holding in its portfolio of Por tuguese renewable assets to Norway’s sovereign wealth fund. Insiders said the operation would expand the Spanish multinational’s existing partner ship with Norges Bank Investment Man agement (NBIM), which already owns as sets in Spain. Sources quoted by Bloomberg News maintained that no agreement has yet been reached. “It’s possible Iberdrola could decide not to proceed with the sale,” they said. In January this year, NBIM ac quired for €600 million a 49 per cent stake in Iberdrola’s Spanish solar plants and on shore windfarms. According to Spain’s fi nancial press, Iberdrola hopes to sell more of its assets to NBIM “and the Portuguese sale is part of these discussions.” Both Iberdrola and NBIM declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News.
JOSE MANUEL CAMPA, president of the European Banking Authority (EBA) warned that too many bank services were in too few hands. Speaking at the 14th Finance Meet ing organised by financial daily Expan sion and KPMG in Madrid, the Spanish economist alerted banks to overde pendence on technological giants. Banks outsourced ‘critical activities’ in cluding network infrastructure, data processing and cloud computing, Cam pa warned. The majority were not European and provided their services from out side the European Union. The EBA had identified 15,000 providers of technological financial ser vices although “just a few” controlled this sector, said the EBA president, who mentioned no names but clearly referred to Google and Microsoft.
Online boost
NETFLIX’S UK sales rose to more than £1.5 billion (€1.7 billion) last year, recentlypublished accounts revealed. Unlike mediocre figures for Net flix globally, its UK sales grew by 12 per cent from £1.38 billion to £1.54 billion (€1.59 billion to €1.78 billion) in the year ending Decem ber 2022. The online streaming giant was boosted by the sixpart documen tary series featuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which launched on December 8 last year. The Harry and Meghan pre miere was 2022’s mostwatched new subscription TV programme, with 4.5 million viewers for its first episode according to the Broad casters Audience Research Board (BARB).
Chic flotation BIRKENSTOCK, known for now chic but formerly frumpy sandals, are preparing for flotation on the New York stock exchange. The company founded in 1774 informed investors that it intends to price its shares somewhere be tween $44 and $49 ($41.52 and €46.24) each. This will raise up to $1.6 billion (€1.52 billion) for the company and its private equity owner L Catter ton, which is backed by the French luxury fashion house LVMH. Birkenstock’s chief executive Oliver Reichert told investors that the flotation was a “generational opportunity” to buy into the com pany.
A winning formula MERCEDESBENZ GRAND PRIX recorded increased 2022 earn ings assisted by sponsorship and its America’s Cup sailing champi onship presence. Despite the British company’s uninspiring revenues from For mula 1, income rose 24 per cent to £475 million (€550.3 million) in 2022. Pretax profits went up to £113 million from roughly £72 million (€83 million) the previous year. This means that Formula One’s Toto Wolff and Sir Jim Rat cliffe’s petrochemicals empire will both receive a share in the £75 million (€86.9 million) divi dend from the team behind Lewis Hamilton.
FINANCE
20 EWN 19 - 25 October 2023
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CLOSING PRICES 16 OCTOBER
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
NET VOL
6.026,0
5.952,0
8,17K
1.363,50
1.346,50
8,87K
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
3I Group
2.057,00
2.085,00
2.052,00
28,03K
InterContinental
5.964,0
Abrdn
159,30
159,95
158,15
361,04K
Intermediate Capital
1.356,00
Admiral Group
2.416,0
2.432,0
2.403,0
51,42K
Intertek
4.126,0
4.220,0
4.114,0
9,77K
Anglo American
2.252,5
2.284,5
2.248,5
178,73K
ITV
65,17
66,04
63,92
4,55M
Antofagasta
1.408,50
1.423,00
1.399,00
47,10K
J Sainsbury
256,40
258,20
256,10
66,02K
Ashtead Group
4.930,2
4.992,0
4.917,0
13,42K
Johnson Matthey
1.512,5
1.521,0
1.500,5
14,36K
Associated British Foods
1.953,0
1.961,5
1.950,0
50,44K
Land Securities
596,00
601,80
592,80
46,45K
AstraZeneca
10.860,0
10.934,0
10.846,0
80,27K
Legal & General
217,70
219,90
216,80
488,61K
54,78K
Lloyds Banking
43,38
43,75
43,33
6,54M
8.192,0
8.250,0
8.170,0
12,18K
Auto Trader Group Plc
632,80
636,00
631,00
NET VOL
COMPANY
COMPANY
1.15592
0.86519
Units per €
US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0529 Japan yen (JPY)........................................157.49 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9519 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4576 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.510
415,40
410,00
305,82K
London Stock Exchange
B&M European Value Retail SA570,80
577,00
569,00
87,48K
Melrose Industries
480,20
482,50
478,70
157,95K
currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830
BAE Systems
1.085,00
1.093,50
1.078,00
298,63K
Mondi
1.383,00
1.392,50
1.379,00
33,57K
THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER
Barclays
153,38
154,30
153,02
3,22M
National Grid
977,08
987,80
974,00
277,72K
Barratt Developments
419,36
422,80
418,10
334,54K
NatWest Group
226,70
228,00
226,00
559,10K
6.918,0
6.974,0
6.908,0
8,00K 296,56K
Aviva
411,48
Berkeley
4.036,0
4.078,0
4.029,0
4,44K
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BHP Group Ltd
2.340,50
2.361,00
2.337,50
69,03K
Ocado
510,80
519,60
505,60
BP
550,35
553,90
549,10
1,97M
Persimmon
1.022,2
1.025,0
1.013,5
54,91K
156,01K
Phoenix
465,36
468,70
464,40
129,97K
Prudential
892,60
897,20
886,40
223,22K
British American Tobacco 2.474,5
2.476,0
2.447,0
British Land Company
311,40
315,00
307,00
44,78K
BT Group
118,65
120,25
118,50
533,57K
Bunzl
2.979,0
3.005,0
2.976,0
7,09K
Burberry Group
1.753,5
1.771,5
1.751,0
55,28K
Carnival
889,4
896,0
887,0
66,73K
Centrica
157,05
158,65
156,35
722,21K
Coca Cola HBC AG
2.111,0
2.125,0
2.109,0
13,31K
Compass
2.052,00
2.073,00
2.048,00
85,82K
CRH
4.746,7
4.777,0
4.743,0
70,27K
Croda Intl
4.324,0
4.358,0
4.317,0
24,81K
DCC
4.627,0
4.656,0
4.611,0
5,38K
Diageo
3.053,5
3.062,5
3.045,0
100,69K
DS Smith
282,70
285,90
282,50
133,56K
EasyJet
386,00
398,60
385,60
348,60K
Experian
2.757,0
2.784,0
2.743,0
55,29K
Ferguson
13.685,0
13.880,0
13.680,0
16,72K
Flutter Entertainment
13.305,0
13.335,0
13.260,0
8,48K
Fresnillo
547,28
553,20
547,00
38,60K
Glencore
460,95
464,10
459,90
1,95M
GSK plc
1.496,40
1.513,40
1.496,20
233,98K
Halma
1.881,5
1.908,5
1.877,5
56,63K
Hargreaves Lansdown
739,60
745,60
736,20
57,01K
Hikma Pharma
2.061,00
2.085,00
2.056,00
21,67K
HSBC
649,90
653,80
649,30
IAG
142,80
145,60
Imperial Brands
1.726,00
Informa
710,60
Reckitt Benckiser
5.842,0
5.880,0
5.834,0
18,46K
Relx
2.904,00
2.936,00
2.894,00
108,64K
Rentokil
607,40
610,40
603,80
255,04K
Rightmove
582,40
589,20
581,40
49,81K
Rio Tinto PLC
5.135,0
5.160,0
5.117,0
119,73K
Rolls-Royce Holdings
212,30
214,60
212,00
1,25M
Sage
1.016,69
1.023,50
1.014,50
38,24K
Samsung Electronics DRC 1.241,00
1.242,00
1.237,00
0,69K
Schroders
392,4
394,4
391,1
35,43K
Scottish Mortgage
672,58
685,60
670,80
141,49K
Segro
730,28
738,00
727,40
47,55K
Severn Trent
2.467,0
2.499,0
2.465,0
44,17K
Shell
2.745,9
2.753,5
2.734,0
659,72K
Smith & Nephew
942,80
948,80
939,60
142,31K
Smiths Group
1.612,00
1.630,00
1.609,50
31,03K
Spirax-Sarco Engineering 8.442,0
8.500,0
8.418,0
7,33K
SSE
1.585,50
1.594,00
1.580,00
192,02K
St. James’s Place
647,00
652,40
633,80
310,77K
Standard Chartered
749,20
755,80
747,40
287,53K
Taylor Wimpey
109,08
110,50
108,80
380,10K
Tesco
275,86
277,10
275,00
776,58K
Tui
419,20
422,40
412,60
108,07K
Unilever
3.914,5
3.937,5
3.906,0
189,31K
1,80M
United Utilities
1.002,50
1.013,50
999,20
138,39K
142,35
1,52M
Vodafone Group PLC
76,95
77,71
76,86
2,01M
1.726,50
1.714,50
107,90K
Whitbread
3.252,7
3.278,0
3.245,0
12,94K
716,60
709,40
132,76K
WPP
714,40
718,20
712,60
44,11K
DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 16 OCTOBER
COMPANY
PRICE
CHANGE
CHANGE% VOLUME(M)
3M American Express Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Dow Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce Inc The Travelers UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walgreens Boots Walmart Walt Disney
88,69 151,13 284,10 178,85 185,00 267,98 164,09 53,77 52,89 49,74 309,52 291,86 183,56 138,51 35,97 156,85 148,08 248,37 104,04 327,73 99,92 144,71 204,65 164,22 539,27 30,67 237,75 23,25 159,87 84,35
89,85 154,14 288,46 181,93 187,29 273,94 164,83 54,12 53,42 50,71 316,17 294,73 184,85 140,12 36,79 157,36 153,10 248,80 104,52 333,83 100,85 145,03 207,14 164,29 544,46 31,39 238,61 24,63 160,46 84,58
88,26 1,90M 150,43 1,81M 280,00 3,45M 178,14 51,05M 183,18 8,07M 266,10 1,84M 162,30 6,78M 53,44 14,41M 52,64 14,44M 49,61 3,54M 308,17 1,74M 290,89 1,95M 182,36 2,19M 138,27 4,43M 35,86 27,80M 156,05 5,35M 147,84 28,18M 246,00 2,18M 102,78 5,28M 326,36 21,05M 99,42 8,57M 143,19 6,82M 203,22 3,34M 161,05 1,50M 532,00 5,06M 30,64 24,41M 236,23 4,80M 23,05 20,96M 158,90 4,47M 83,38 8,84M M - MILLION DOLLARS
NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 16 OCTOBER
COMPANY Most Advanced
CHANGE NET / %
Revolution Medicines, Inc. WuXi Biologics (Cayman) Inc. Hecla Mining Company Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Viasat, Inc. Dollar General Corporation Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited The Progressive Corporation Pan American Silver Corp. Zai Lab Limited Sibanye Stillwater Limited
VOLUME
+23.60% +15.06% +13.11% +10.34% +9.29% +9.16% +8.72% +8.13% +7.20% +6.96% +6.74%
10.654M 71,523 11.478M 5.7M 3.738M 12.838M 8.521M 6.481M 6.777M 454,441 5.04M
-52.87% -33.74% -25.45% -9.61% -9.26% -8.58% -8.56% -8.42% -8.11% -8.06% -7.17%
2.485M 986,202 2.162M 1.224M 26,336 736,884 281,904 321,860 98,002 1.29M 858,773
Most Declined T2 Biosystems, Inc. MSP Recovery, Inc. Belden Inc. Modine Manufacturing Company Huaneng Power International, Inc. Duolingo, Inc. Getty Images Holdings, Inc. Ørsted A/S Ørsted A/S WESCO International, Inc. PowerSchool Holdings, Inc.
‘
euroweeklynews.com
BUSINESS EXTRA Not going NATIONWIDE has launched its ‘most signifi cant’ rebrand in 36 years while announcing its com mitment to the high street, ‘with facetoface attention while banks continue to close’. The Swindonbased building society founded in 1883 is investing in all its 605 branches, none of which would close until 2026 at the earliest, it pledged last June.
Airlines slump GLOBAL airline stocks dipped in Europe as oil prices rose and flights were cancelled throughout the region following terrorist at tacks that have put Israel on a war footing. IAG, which owns British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling slid to the bottom of the FTSE on October 9, with shares in EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air also falling.
19 - 25 October 2023
EWN 21
Waitrose-Amazon rumours Barça hitch Linda Hall WAITROSE is allegedly talking to Amazon, discussing plans to sell groceries via the online giant. Upmarket Waitrose lags behind market leaders Tesco and Sainsbury and is far behind Aldi and Lidl who at tracted shoppers opting for lower prices during the cost ofliving crisis. Since early 2020, Waitrose’s share of the UK’s grocery mar ket has dipped from 5.1 per cent to 4.6 per cent according to market researchers, Kan
Photo credit: CC/Edward Hands
FINANCE
WAITROSE: Lagging behind its rivals.
Attack shuts shops INDITEX announced on Tuesday Octo ber 10 that it was closing its stores in Israel as violence intensified following the Hamas attacks. “Our stores will remain temporarily closed and item return times will be extended by 20 days from their re opening,” the group stated on its web site. The company based in Arteixo (Gali cia) has 84 franchise stores in Israel
selling its Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Stradivarius labels as well as Zara Home. The company explained that it was “closely monitoring” the situation and “would make decisions based on the advice of local authorities.” Rival fashion giant H&M has closed its 24 stores in Israel “until further no tice” as has the Swedish furniture re tailer, Ikea.
tar. The Amazon initiative is seen as a way of enticing back shoppers and recovering some of its market share. The Waitrose reports also echo the agreement between Amazon and Iceland which debuted last month, offering thousands of Iceland products to Prime subscribers which are delivered from its stores. The service is currently be ing trialled in Greater Manch ester before introduction throughout the UK. Amazon already has an agreement with the Coop and Morrisons, selling their groceries on its website and delivering them from local branches. When the Coop first offered the service in some stores in late 2021, it said that Amazon accounted for more than 15 per cent of its sales. Neither Waitrose nor Ama zon were prepared to com ment on the rumours, al though Waitrose pointed out that it already sells through Waitrose.com.
FC BARCELONA’S plans to float its digital content plat form Barça Media for €1 bil lion in New York have been delayed yet again. The German investment fund Libero failed to meet the October 10 deadline for the €40 million payment due for the purchase of a 9.8 per cent stake in Barça Vision, another of the foot ball club’s companies.
Oil fail SPAIN’S Agriculture min ister Luis Planas con firmed that next year’s olive oil production will increase by only 15 per cent on this year’s, owing to low rainfall and unusu ally high temperatures. According to ministry estimates, the 20232024 season will produce 765,000 tons, 34 per cent less than the average re sult over the last four campaigns.
22 EWN 19 - 25 October 2023
euroweeklynews.com
Give us a break LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT THE one country I find difficult to ig nore in this horrendous MidEast may hem is Saudi Arabia. They truly do sit up there in their ivory, oil impregnated towers, gazing down at the world like the fabled gods of Greek mythology, and do you know something; they don’t actually care who wins or loses this awful conflict, because they are not actually on any one’s side! Frankly they will be more interested in whether they can host the 2034 football World Cup. I did of course live among them for eight years and they truly do get away with murder. By supplying worldwide demands for the black gold that surges beneath their feet, they can actually do just about anything they want. The barrel prices they decide to charge can cause the economy of whole countries to stagger and even falter. This is basi cally why the rest of the world treats
them like spoiled children and gives them carte blanche. Some of the fac tors I bore witness to while I lived there were quite extraordinary. They don’t of course accept any immigrants. Women are predominately second class and the men are so egocentric some of their habits are remarkable. One of the friends I made would spend two hours or more in the bathroom, sim ply getting ready for the day. Don’t ask me everything he got up to. I am aware that those with darker skin do powder up quite a lot because the lighter their skin the more acceptable they are as pure Saudis. There is of course a more sinister side. When slavery was abolished in 1963 they built a town in the desert for all the released slaves. A couple of years later both the town and the slaves disap peared altogether! During my stay there was also an ef fort by hundreds of wild Jahayman mil itants to capture and take over Mecca. The world was told it was a small up rising, but one of the doctors at the military hospital informed me that dur ing the two weeks of conflict they treated over 600 army casualties
alone. Authorities spent the next two Fridays publically chopping off the heads of the enemy survivors all over the country. Another year, a Johnny Walker exec utive told me a number of Princes had made SA the world’s biggest importers of JW Whiskey, but the company was unable to show it on the books! I also knew one of King Fahad’s hairdressers on his yacht when he was a prince. She was beautiful and he of course was bald! As I predicted the murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate has sunk out of sight. Those who were deemed responsible have simply dis appeared, probably living lives of luxu ry with the millions they undoubtedly received for admitting to the crime and therefore exonerating the king. The Saudis are now intent on build ing a vast underground city; some where where they can all scurry to when the nuclear bombs begin their worldwide annihilation. And you don’t think money rules this terribly imma ture existence of ours? Give us a break. Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com
Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
FEATURE
OUR VIEW
CUSTOMER SERVICE
AT EWN we are great supporters of the service industry throughout Spain and have been pleased to promote many bars and restaurants over the years and value their advertising custom considerably. Hospitality is an incredibly important part of the Spanish economy and is essential not just for tourists but for the lit erally millions of Spaniards who enjoy a coffee and break fast in the morning, the menu del dia at lunchtime or have a drink or meal with friends in the evening. If you enter a shop, you have the chance to view the goods on sale and then ask a member of staff whether they can supply any other option. Once you have their response, you can make an in formed decision and decide whether to purchase the product or not. A restaurant is much the same, except that you are effectively purchasing sight unseen, based on what appears on a menu. From time to time, it has become obvious that some restaurants and their chefs overlook the fact that the cus tomer is paying for the meal and either phrase their menus in a complicated manner so you don’t really know what to expect or refuse to change the makeup of a dish. Recent changes in the law mean that there is a require ment that restaurants are required to allow diners with dogs to enter and take a seat within the interior, but a lot of diners don’t necessarily believe it appropriate, especially if the animal is large or makes a lot of noise. Restaurants owner can therefore place a notice in a prominent position outside of the restaurant stating that dogs are not welcome and this means that diners can choose a nondog friendly establishment.
FEATURE
euroweeklynews.com
19 - 25 October 2023
EWN 23
Advertising Feature
THE IMPACT OF NOT HAVING A SPANISH WILL ON YOUR SPOUSE AND FAMILY
PAUL BLACKMOORE (Practice Principal) with little helper Benny, his rescue French Bulldog. Many British expats believe at least one of the following: • Their Will made in the UK covers their Spanish assets. • If they have no Will and are married with children, their spouse will inherit everything first. • A Spanish Will made before 2012 will still guarantee their wishes
will be able to be adhered to. • If they are not married and have children, those children will automatically inherit everything In fact - EVERY ONE of the above statements is false. Let’s go through this step by step then: 1. A Will made in the UK is not able to deal with Spanish assets effectively. It would firstly need to be written containing a Brussels IV Regulation EU no 650/2012 succession clause stating that the law of either; England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland The Isle of Man or Guernsey and Jersey Governs the succession of the testator’s estate and then, upon death,
the Will would need to be translated into Spanish and be sent to have an apostille attached It’s much simpler to arrange a notarised Spanish Will, written in both Spanish and English, containing a Brussels IV clause that will guarantee your wishes for your Spanish estate will be able to be carried out. 2. If you do not have an up-todate Spanish Will in place and are married with children, your spouse will not inherit all of your estate under Spanish law. The way your estate will be divided is as follows: Your spouse would inherit a Life interest only (called an usufructo) in 1/3rd of your estate. The other 2/3rds will get divided equally between your children. The children then inherit the 1/3rd that your spouse had a life in-
terest in when the surviving spouse dies. Just having a life interest in 1/3rd of an estate is clearly not what the majority of married expats want for their spouse after they die, which is why arranging a new Spanish Will choosing the law of your home nation to govern the succession of your estate and clearly setting out your wishes is so vitally important. 3. Spanish Wills made before 2012 will not have a Brussels IV clause in them allowing you to choose the law of your home country to govern the succession of your estate. This means your wishes will not be able to be adhered to and in many cases, EVEN Wills written after this time refer to: British Law or UK Law, neither of which exist, only the law of the home jurisdictions listed above exist as legal entities, so it is
much better to ensure that you update your Will to ensure your wishes regarding who receives your estate when you die are able to be carried out without any issue. 4. If you are not married and own a property jointly with a partner, that partner will NOT own the whole property when you die. Your half of the property would be inherited equally by any children or by any surviving parents if you had no children, and, if no surviving parents or children, then your siblings and/or your nephews and nieces would inherit your share of the property. Obviously, it is important that your wishes are able to be complied with when you die and with our Wills starting at just €99 including IVA, now is the ideal time to call us on 865 756 058 to get yours sorted out properly and legally.
Thy Will Be Done - Call Paul on 865 756 058 or complete the contact form on the website, www.thywill.es.
THE British Benevolent Fund was funded over a century ago to provide financial assis tance for British nationals in extreme financial distress and who have no other recourse, whether friends or family or state support. The BBF works with partner charities from www.supportinspain.info across the country as well as the UK’s consular network in Spain in order to help those who have no other means. Recently we were made aware of a case of a young woman who was living in Spain with her partner. They had three children together. She had contacted a local charity saying that she was being physically and sexually abused by her partner and was fearful for herself. She did say however that she was finding it almost im possible to take the necessary action to report the incidents because of the fear of losing her family and young chil dren. The charity could do little other than offer sympathy and advice if she didn’t wish to take any action. She re turned home to continue
Starting life over Olaf Clayton of BBF.
with her unhappy and difficult home situation. The abuse continued too. But one day she took up the offer of help from the charity and consulted a lawyer with them. As if em powered from another source she took action. The denuncia was made both criminal and civil and immedi ately the authorities were at the house. She took the decision to leave him and take the chil dren. He had little choice and was facing a barrage of legal issues to contend with. She pressed her advantage to re turn to the UK with the chil dren. He at first refused, but under pressure relented to give his permission for the move, which was his right. The legal case continues
but she is now out of the hor ror of living with him and has the children safe. As we speak the UK consulate are arrang ing emergency accommoda tion for her and the children. The BBF has agreed with her and the consulate to pay for her repatriation and emer gency accommodation so she can start her life over. Her problems are not over and she faces considerable challenges, but she and the children are out of harms way. The BBF can only help peo ple like her with your support if you would like to make a donation to the British Benev olent Fund please visit our www.britishbenevolent fund.org thank you on be half of the many for your help. Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM
30
26 EWN 19 - 25 October 2023
euroweeklynews.com
FEATURE
C OMMENTS
OMMUNITY
THERE is a very significant (and growing) population of residents in Spain who receive old age pensions from the UK. Unlike those who were not resident in a European Member State prior to Brexit, these pensioners are entitled to annual increases, currently calculated according to the triple lock formula which means that in 2023 and 2024 their pensions will have shot up thanks to the general rise in salaries and the cost of living in Britain. If however you live in one of 25 European countries, but not Cyprus, France, Malta or Spain then you are entitled to receive the winter fuel allowance, but for those of us who live in Spain, it is apparently too warm to qualify, although if you enjoy retirement in Italy then you do. One reader is not happy with this state of affairs and has created a petition as it can get a bit chilly when you live in a property with marble floors, single glazing, no central heating and no insulation.
“
I have a published UK government petition to reinstate winter fuel allowance for UK expats living in France and Spain. https://petition.parlia ment.uk/petitions/647060 I have been trying without success to establish the parameters used almost 10 years ago that changed the average winter temperature in both counrties. My understanding is that that the seven Canary Islands were used for Spain and similar warm overseas territories for France and Spain that resulted in both countries having their UK expats winter fuel allowance withdrawn. I am writing articles for English language publications in Spain and wish to be accurate with the information that I provide. With over 500,000 UK expats living in France and Spain, many of whom are retired pensioners, I hoped that you could provide the required information or direct me to the UK government department that will. Best regards Stuart Burton
Hello, My mother (72 years old) is a German expat. She received neither a German one-off payment (inflation, energy prices) for German pensioners nor a one-off payment in Spain (despite registration). The one-off payment only applies to German pensioners who live in Germany or only to Spanish pensioners. You can see that people who have paid taxes all their lives are the stupid ones in the end. Every idler gets something, except the decent ones. It's not just an English problem! Regards Ralph Johne
Brexit retirees Without doubt we ‘Love Spain’ and the people, everything was better there. Wish we had not left. Only on a mini break in 2002 turned into our dream of buying a home in Spain. There were many paper and financial costs, but those are our happiest memories ever.
Watching programmes showing life in the sun should forewarn applicants of all the hidden costs, Add 20 per cent to the initial 20 per cent purchase and legal costs. (Check out that Wills are legal and include worldwide assets. UK house prices escalated £200,000 more over the 14 years. Selling of the Spanish property price (Oct 2019) did not even reach our original 2002 costs. Many fellow returnees lost a lot of money! Sadly do not think of returning without a large downsizing. It may just be a dream , so hope it is not a nightmare! Anne Mitchell
Old smells What a wonderful article. It sums up everything we know and love about Spain, past and present. I was reading the article to my wife and when I go to the last paragraph about the aromas in current taxis she said without hesitation ‘air freshener’. Iain Chester
Invisible slavery The only difference in Murcia is there are no strawberries, but watermelons, iceberg lettuce and many other fruits and vegetables. These poor workers are living and working in terrible conditions, shanty towns, made of pallets and plastic sheeting for shelter… one of which caught on fire a couple of years ago; fortunately, there were no injuries. They are hauled around the countryside, squashed inside very old diesel vehicles, which belch out thick, black exhaust smoke, often at break-neck speeds. This is a disgusting practice, but while there are a few Spanish producers who are getting very rich, and northern Europeans are getting plenty of fruit and vegetables, nothing changes, and these poor people will continue to be exploited. Now lets just mention the HUGE amount of water that is needed to produce these succulent fruit, in a dry land, where habitats are suffering and wildlife is dying…Shame! Shame on Spain and the EU! Concha
Comments 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.
FEATURE
euroweeklynews.com
19 - 25 October 2023
Advertising Feature
Lower prices 9 O U T 10 C U S T O M E R S R E C O M MEND US In a recent survey of our customers after using Línea Directa’s Roadside Assistance and breakdown services, over 90 per cent said they would happily recommend our insurance services to a friend or colleague. Línea Directa would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to answer the questions in our survey as it has given us valuable feedback on our services and enabled us to integrate positive changes and continue to provide expert solutions for overseas residents in Spain. ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS IN ENGLISH Car, bike and home insurance, with absolutely everything in English. The emergency and claims hotline is fast and efficient, with quick no obligation quotes over the phone. The customer service team will help you decide on the best policy and there are easy payment options so you can spread the cost of your premiums. DID YOU KNOW? All Línea Directa insurance policies offer additional features specifically designed for expatriates living in Spain. Their home insurance includes Pet Assistance, I T Assistance, and Home Maintenance. All motorbike policies come with Replacement Motorbike, Technical Equipment cover and even Young Person’s Night-time Assis-
tance. And their car insurance includes helpful services such as Legal Assistance that can provide help when applying for or renewing your driving licence in Spain. E X P AT2E X P AT REWARD PROGRAMME When an existing Línea Directa customer recommends a new customer, they both receive €30. Línea Directa’s Expat2Expat p r o gramme is free and open to all existing customers. You can recommend up to 10 people and earn up to €300 in cash per year. Simply ask your friend to call 917 002 006 and quote your full name. Then once their application for car, bike or home insurance has been approved, Línea Directa will pay the reward straight into the bank account following payment of next or first premium. For more information, see terms and conditions at lineadirec ta.com LOW E R T H E P R I C E O F Y O U R I N SURANCE Change to Línea Directa and they will lower the price of your insurance. Línea Directa has been providing comprehensive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 25 years. With over three million customers nationwide, Línea Directa makes sure you get the best possible price for the kind of insurance you really need.
Call their English-speaking customer service staff on 952 147 834 or get a competitive quote now at lineadirecta.com
BEST PRICE. BETTER COVER.
EWN 27
“My Name is Musk. Elon Musk” quite sound right, does it? Often labelled a ‘complete and utter id iot’, yet he developed a car company that BREAKING VIEWS disrupted road transport worldwide and is Nora is the author of popular psychological now making thousands of cars a week. suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. SpaceX is NASA’s goto company for space ELON MUSK, the world’s richest man, gets rockets (the only one that successfully a lot of flak about his reuses them), he’s got well wealth and passions. Peo developed plans for the ple ask: ‘Elon, how about fastest rail links in the doing something worth world, he ran a successful while?’ Well, what about online payment system virtually creating the elec and... tric car industry, building a If anyone’s still labelling Hyperloop, SpaceX? Not him a ‘complete and utter forgetting Starlink, with idiot’, I’d ask: well, what is it out which Ukraine com YOU’VE done precisely? munications wouldn’t ex PS As the world’s wealth ist. iest person, can you buy He gets lot of flak too for Russia and sack Putin, Elon? his political interventions (Just asking for a friend.) most recently about immi Nora Johnson’s 12 criti gration problems for Italy cally acclaimed psychologi (migrants in small boats) cal suspense crime thrillers NORA’S LATEST THRILLER. and the USA (migrants (www.norajohnson.net) all from Mexico). Maybe he available online including sees himself as Jack Bauer, saving mankind eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audio in TV’s ‘24’? Or James Bond? Drum roll! books, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits “My name is Musk. Elon Musk.” Doesn’t to Cudeca cancer charity.
NORA JOHNSON
Nora Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.
PETS
22 28
SPONSORED BY
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www.euroweeklynews.com • 29 June - 5 July 2023 2023 www.euroweeklynews.com • 19 - 25 October
Travelling to Europe AS the world gets smaller, the urge to explore it with our fourlegged com panions grows. But is a carfree European es capade with your pooch more trouble than it’s worth, especially post Brexit? The answer is a mixed bag. While the UK’s exit from the EU has changed the pet passport scheme, with an Animal Health Certificate and timely ra bies vaccination, your fur ry friend is good to go. However, navigating the Continent's transporta tion can be a tad tricky. Travelling to Europe with a dog but without a car isn’t as simple as hop ping on the Eurostar. De spite dogs being allowed on trains in Britain, Eu rostar has a somewhat baffling nodog policy. Before the pandemic, dog owners wishing to travel to France and be
TRAIN TRAVEL: With a little planning can be achieved.
yond either had to go by car on a ferry or via the Channel Tunnel, or book a dogfriendly cabin on one of the ferry routes as foot passengers. Not only are these op tions more expensive, but getting to and from the ports can be difficult if you’re dragging a dog along, too. France’s train policy
dictates smaller dogs must be in carriers, while their larger counterparts require muzzles. So, if the allure of rolling French countryside viewed from a doubledecker, aircon ditioned train tempts you, don’t leave your pet behind. With a little plan ning, your European jaunt can be both carfree and caninefilled!
A mindful game EVERY dog owner recog nises that special sparkle in a pup’s eyes when a new toy is introduced. Among the various playthings, interactive puzzles have a unique place. For our beloved ca nine companions, these puzzles are like challeng ing games that stir their curiosity. Designed with thought fulness, these puzzles en courage dogs to think, strategise, and use their senses. Observing a pup deeply
NEW TOYS: Will stir your pet’s curiosity.
engrossed, pawing and nudging, trying to unveil the puzzle’s mystery is
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heartwarming. And when they succeed? The treats that appear as rewards are delightful, but it’s their proud tail wags that truly capture the mo ment’s triumph. For those who adore dogs, provid ing these puzzles is more than just fun. It’s a heart felt gesture to ensure our pets remain active, not just in body but also in mind, enriching their days with excitement and dis covery.
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ROAD TEST by Mark Slack IF the idea of an electric car doesn’t spark your interest then going the hybrid route may be a good way to dip your motoring toes into the world of electric driving. Hy brids come as mildhybrids, full hybrid or plugin hybrid. All have the benefit of a petrol engine to provide a boost to your long dis tance confidence that can otherwise be somewhat of a trial in a full EV. The public charging network in the UK is pretty dire. Kia have a well earned reputation for building some ad vanced EVs but also a good range of hybrids and they don’t come much more practical than the Niro. In normal hybrid specification this fivedoor hatchback utilises a 1.6litre petrol en gine with a 1.32 kwh battery to make it a full hybrid that you never need to plug in. The petrol engine takes care of all that and allows you eco or smart driving modes.
19 - 25 October 2023
EWN 31
Kia Niro HEV - it doesn’t get much better Best described as an inter esting design stylistically it won’t suit everyone, but is eye catching and very dis tinctive. Inside the trim is a little aus
tere in places but nonethe less feels well bolted togeth er and is delightfully hushed unless you really push on under acceleration. Al
though there are no sporting pretensions it’s more than capable of keeping pace with busy traffic. It soaks up KIA NIRO: Enough to be different, but not enough to be strange.
Facts at a Glance • Model: Kia Niro 2 HEV • Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol-electric hybrid • Gears: DCT automatic • Price: €34,688/£30,045 • Performance:0-100kmh (60mph) 10.4 seconds. Maximum Speed 164kmh (102mph) • Economy:4.4l/100km(64.2mpg) combined driving-WLTP • Emissions:100g/km-WLTP Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.
the bumps well and is capa ble of maintaining its equi librium on twisting roads. There’s plenty of space for occupants and their luggage and even the leadin version has enough standard fare to make your motoring life more tolerable. Including powered and heated door mirrors, Android Auto and Apple Car Play, Blue tooth, rear parking sensors and cam era, smart cruise control, smart key with push button start, navigation and auto lights. Higher trim models add additional features such as heated front and rear seats, and ventilated front seats plus a heated steering wheel and power tailgate. Graphics on the instru ment displays are crisp,
proper buttons make things easier to use and unlike some cars of this ilk, the Niro is enough to be different but not different enough to be strange. If that makes sense. It’s also one of a very small number of cars where the usually over sensitive safety kit eg lane keep is perfect and doesn’t need turning off. Priced from €34,688 / £30,045 it stands well against competitors in terms of price and equipment along with the promise of decent economy in the or der of 60mpg.
60m cars are produced every year.
32 EWN 19 - 25 October 2023
SPORT Image: Facebook/FC Cartagena
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MURCIA is gearing up to become the epicentre of international football in November. Miguel Ángel Noguera, the Sports councillor, recently at tended the unveiling of upcoming international events set to take place at the Enrique Roca municipal stadium, positioning Murcia as the capital of international football for the month of November. The municipal stadium will host two U21 international matches fea turing Ukraine. On November 17, Ukraine will face Luxembourg, fol lowed by a match against Azerbaijan on November 21. These matches are official qualifiers for the U21 Euro, and entry will be free. The stadium recently hosted a friendly between the national foot ball teams of New Zealand and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday October 13. The game ended 11. The New Zealand vs Democratic Republic of Congo match was the first visit of the African team to the Region of Murcia, while the New Zealanders previously visited in 2018
EARLY LEAD: Cruel defeat for Cartagena as they fall to Racing de Santander.
Another defeat MUNICIPAL STADIUM: Football fever in Murcia.
during a European tour. Murcia is also in the running to be come one of the Spanish host cities for the 2030 World Cup, jointly or ganised by Spain, Portugal, and Mo rocco. The Enrique Roca stadium, a municipal facility exclusively used by
Real Murcia, has experience in host ing international matches with a fourstar FIFA rating. With a current capacity of 31,000 spectators, the intention is to ex pand it to 40,000 seats if selected as a host city.
First home win Image: Facebook/ Real Murcia CF SAD
REAL MURCIA delivered an improved performance at the Enrique Roca stadium, beat ing Algeciras 10 before a home crowd of 10,274 spec tators. The game’s only goal arrived in the 40th minute, ex pertly executed by Alberto González. This victory marks a significant milestone for Real Murcia, securing their first home win of the season and lifting them to the 11th posi tion in Primera RFEF Group 2, accumulating a total of eight points. Under the guidance of coach Gustavo Munúa, Real Murcia adopted a more di rect style of play, which seemed to resonate well with their squad. Although it might not have been the most graceful brand of foot ball, their determination was plain for all to see. Throughout the first half, they dominated the pro
Image: realmurcia.es
November football
Real Murcia shines with home victory.
ceedings, exerting pressure on Algeciras. In the second half, Algeci ras escalated their efforts, striving for an equaliser. Nonetheless, Real Murcia’s reinvigorated defence stood firm, absorbing the pressure and creating counterattack ing opportunities. The final whistle marked a moment of relief for Real Murcia, signifying a crucial win that has rejuvenated their season and offers a more promising outlook
Inclusive Mini-Golf LA MANGA ADVENTURE GOLF is leading the way in promoting inclusivity in sports with Europe’s firstever Mini Golf Tournament exclusively designed for people with disabili ties. The event is motivated by the inspiring story of Ashton, a 14yearold wheelchair user who frequents the course. The main objective of this groundbreaking tourna ment is to highlight that MiniGolf is an all inclusive activity, irrespective of disability. Organiser Ian Miller hopes participants will discover a new and rewarding activity, broadening their horizons. Entry will be free
of charge for the entire twoday Tourna ment on November 4 and 5. Channel 4’s ‘A New Life in the Sun’ will also be covering the event. This inaugural tournament will be open to ALL ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, re gardless of their age or disability. It will be limited to the first 24 people who register to take part in this groundbreaking tourna ment. For more information and/or to regis ter your entry call or WhatsApp Ian on 0034 693 934 381. The closing entry date is Satur day, October 28.
IN a disappointing turn of events, Cartagena faced their sixth consecutive home defeat despite an early lead, further cementing their status at the bottom of La Liga2 with just five points out of a possible 33. Play ing at Estadio Cartagonova in front of over 8,000 pas sionate fans, the home side hoped for a muchneeded win against Racing de Santander. Under the guidance of their coach, Julián Calero, Cartagena displayed a renewed sense of organisation, intensity, and hard work. The early signs appeared promising when Luis Muñoz netted a goal in the eighth minute. However, the joy was shortlived as a nervous Cartagena side conceded an equaliser in the 27th minute when Andrés Martín found the back of the net. Racing was then awarded a penalty in the 38th minute, converted by Peque, making it 21. Just before half time, Ortuño managed to level the score at 22. The second half saw Peque scoring once again for Racing de Santander in the 61st minute. Despite Carta gena’s relentless efforts, including a disallowed goal, they were unable to find an equaliser. The final score stood at 32 in favour of Racing de Santander, leaving Cartagena at the bottom of the La Liga2 standings, with much work ahead to turn their season around.
Title bound PEDRO ACOSTA is well on his way to securing the 2023 Moto2 cham pionship with a sub stantial 65point lead over his closest rival, Arbolino. With only 125 points left in the season, the Murcian rider could po tentially clinch the title in just two weeks in Thailand, or he has three more races to seal the deal. Acosta, who has claimed seven vic tories out of 15 races this season, displayed
his dominance in a re cent race in Indonesia. Despite starting from the fourth position on the grid, he surged to the front and battled fiercely with fellow rid er Arón Canet, ulti mately pulling ahead and maintaining a blis tering pace. His exceptional per formance solidifies him as the rider to watch in Moto2, with fans eager ly awaiting the champi onshipdeciding mo ment in the near future.