Costa Calida 2 – 8 November 2023 Issue 2000 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

Costa Calida • Issue No. 2000 • 2 - 8 November 2023

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LORCA’S TRADITIONS Senior celebration

Catherine McGeer LO R C A celebrated the 10th Encuentro Nacional de Jóvenes de Herman dades y Cofradías (JOHC). This event brings together young members of reli gious brotherhoods and fraternities. They engaged in biblical pageantry, with impres sive horses and carriages, reenacting the city’s unique tradi tions. All the brotherhoods took on a pil grimage from their respec tive churches to La Bordado ra Square, con verging to com plete the final leg together. The Paso Blanco, organisers of JO HC, led the largest proces sion, featuring various banners, bearers, and a mu sical group. The closing of the event included a concert of reli gious music, the an nouncement of the host city for next year, and the transfer of the Virgin of Las Huertas to her sanctu ary. Throughout the event, the brotherhoods organ ised impressive exhibi tions, special events, and guided tours to introduce young people to their tra ditions. Lorca’s hospitality industry also catered to visitors with a tapas route. Thousands of people travelled from all over Spain for this special event, attracting even tourists and visitors with no religious interest due to its detailed and breath taking processions.

MORE than 300 senior citi zens from all corners of the municipality gathered at the San Blas grove for a special occasion of the Elderly Meet ing Points Network, held ev ery month in San Javier. The unique ‘La Verbena de San Blas’, took place in the pine woods of the San Blas area. The event was organised by the Social Services Depart ment with the collaboration of the Parks and Gardens De partment. Agenda 2030 representa tives, working closely with the San Javier Town Council, welcomed visitors who shared their ideas in a setting filled with live music, raffles,

snacks, workshops, makeup sessions, and a photo booth, among other surprises. San Javier’s mayor, José Miguel Luengo, who attend ed the event with Councillors María del Mar Pérez and María Dolores Ruiz, among other officials, applauded the overwhelming turnout of se nior citizens. He underlined the city’s commitment to both children and the elderly, noting the success of the in novative ‘Elderly Meeting Points Network’, a pro gramme that has been thriv ing in San Javier, providing monthly gatherings for se niors in parks and gardens throughout the municipality.

Image: Facebook/ JOHC LORCA 2023

EMBRACING TRADITION: Lorca’s vibrant biblical celebration.

Image: San Javier Town Hall

A day of joy for seniors at San Blas.

EWN

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2 - 8 November 2023

A theatrical journey JAN HOLDEN began her theatrical journey 14 years ago in Spain when she sought solo activities by looking through the newspaper. Within a week, she joined three theatre groups and dance clubs. She got her break by filling in for a departing member of the Actors Studio group, diving into two challenging roles on stage. Jan’s passion for performing extended to singing in choirs, learning tap, and jazz dance, and gracing Benidorm Palace stages multiple times. She has been a part of the ADAPT Theatre group for eight years, relishing her diverse roles. Her only regret is not pursuing this passion earlier in the UK. Today, Jan is excited about the ADAPT Theatre Group’s upcoming production, ‘Ali Baba and the Four and ½ Thieves,’ at The Casa De Cultura, San Pedro Del Pinatar, from November

Image: Adapt Theatre Group

Jan Holden: Finding her spotlight

30 to December 3. Tickets are available at Tickets priced at €4 are available from: Bar Amigos Avda Las Salinas, San Pedro, Mail Pinatar (SEUR) Calle Reyes Catolicos, San Pedro, Animal Amigos Charity Home Shop, Calle Penelope Oasis Blvd, Los Alcázares or through contact with Eric at ericberg2@hotmail. com or 656 361 098.

Many free activities

FROM November 3 to 5, La Manga del Mar Menor will come alive with the ‘Weekend Azul,’ (Blue Weekend) an event aimed at showcasing the diverse range of leisure, sports, beauty, health, and cultural opportunities available in La Manga all year round. During the Weekend Azul, 607 free spots are available for residents and tourists in various activities. The festivities kick off on November 3 with kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, kite surfing, Efoil courses, visits to the Cabo de Palos lighthouse, and a concert by La Saga at Turco Beach.

On November 4, there are over a dozen activities, including hiking in Calblanque, cycling, kayaking, SUP, and surfing courses. Notable events include sailing on the Mar Menor, a ‘Know the Territory’ tour led by a biologist to explore the area’s fauna and flora, aerial yoga, and scuba diving. The festivities continue on November 5 with more hiking, cycling, and transparent kayak excursions in Cabo de Palos, as well as surfing, diving, and Efoil activities. To join these exciting activities, make reservations on the official website: http:// azulweekendlamanga365.com/.

YOUR EWN HAS

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2 - 8 November 2023

Planting wellness Image: San Pedro del Pinatar Town Hall

LOCAL NEWS

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

NIBS EXTRA Artful display AFTER a career in the mili tary, Cayetano Ruiz Mialdea turned to painting in retire ment, dedicating all his time to this newfound passion. His exhibition, ‘Serendipity in Colour,’ is on display at the Casa de Cultura Art Gallery in San Pedro del Pinatar until November 24. Don’t miss it!

Sports figurines GET up close to major sport ing milestones through clay figures at the ‘Plastihistoria del Deporte’ exhibition by Fundación Educa. Witness iconic moments like the first Spanish cycling tour and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Visit the Museo Arqueológico En rique Escudero de Castro in Cartagena until January 15.

Abbey Road THE renowned band Abbey Road presents ‘The Beatles Show.’ This twohour show, promises a oneofakind Beatles experience in Eu rope. Catch it at El Batel Au ditorium in Cartagena on November 12 at 7.30pm.

Teatro Romea DON’T miss the Kyiv Ballet company performing The Corsair and Swan Lake at the beautiful Teatro Romea in Murcia City on November 15 and 16 respectively. Tickets start from €20 from website www.teatro romea.es.

Dog attack AN elderly woman tragically lost her life in Alguazas after a vicious attack by her neigh bour’s two dogs. The 96 yearold victim succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, where she fought for five days. This heartbreaking inci dent highlights the need for responsible pet ownership.

Reconnecting with nature in San Pedro del Pinatar.

IN an effort to enhance the natural beauty of San Pedro del Pinatar, 150 pine trees were recently planted in vari ous green areas across the municipality. This ambitious reforestation project is a joint project by the local govern ment and two nonprofit or ganisations, Aidemar and Afe mar, which focus on community wellbeing and mental health support. San Pedro del Pinatar’s mayor, Ángela Gaona, em phasised the significance of this reforestation initiative as

part of a broader plan to revi talise the town’s green spaces. The primary goal is to underscore the importance of the pine tree, a symbolic species closely associated with the town’s identity and natural heritage. By introducing these 150 new pine trees into the land scape, San Pedro del Pinatar is not only enhancing its envi ronmental aesthetics but also reinforcing its commitment to sustainable urban develop ment and preserving its rich ecological heritage.

Housing support IN 2023, 55 homes valued at approximately €2.1 million have been handed over. The Ministry of Development and Infrastruc ture has this week transferred ownership of 16 homes to families who were previously renting these properties. The Minister, José Manuel Pancorbo, and the Director General of Housing and Archi tecture, María Dolores Gil, signed the purchase deeds for several homes, a measure within the framework of the ‘Haciendo Hogar’ (Making Home) Plan. This initiative implements support measures for individuals and families facing greater vulnerability or difficulty accessing afford able housing in the market or maintaining it over time. It recognis es that not all families share the same economic or social circum stances. The 16 properties granted are located in various municipalities, including Mazarrón, Archena, and Yecla.

Mountain Biking THE XXVII MTB (Mountain Bike) March ‘Bahía de Mazarrón’ is just around the corner, promising excite ment and challenge for mountain biking enthusiasts in the region. This eagerly awaited event, organized by Club 9 ½, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 5. María Isabel Carrillo, the Councillor for Sports, and José de La Cruz, the President of the 9 ½ Cycling Club in Puerto de Mazarrón, recently unveiled this remarkable sporting event. Over the

years, it has earned a special place on the region's sports calendar, attracting riders from near and far. In collabo ration with the Cycling Feder ation of the Region of Mur cia, both organisations are dedicated to promoting mountain biking in the area. The 52kilometre journey through the picturesque landscapes of the bay starts at 9:30 am from the scenic Paseo del Rihuete. Cyclists can register until November 2 on cronomur.es, and or ganisers are expecting more than 200 participants.

EWN

“The Euro Weekly News: celebrating 2,000 editions of excellence and community” IN the picturesque coastal towns of Spain, a momentous occasion is upon us as The Eu ro Weekly News marks its 2,000th edition. This multiple awardwinning publication, founded by a couple from the North of Eng land has played a remarkable role as a pro moter of Spain and an active supporter of local charities throughout its distinguished history. The journey began back in July 11, 1985 with a vision by a Manchester couple, who, recognising the need for a publication to assist newcomers in their Span ish life, created ‘The Enter tainer’. Priced at a mere one peseta per edition, it quickly became a beloved source of local news, views, and infor mation, supported by local business advertise ments. Fast forward to 1996, and The Entertainer was at a cross roads. It was then that Michel and Steven Euesden entered the scene. With their en ergy and vision, they saw the publication’s future and took ownership. Their arrival marked a pivotal moment in the newspa per’s history, as they set out to transform it into more than just a newspaper; they aimed to make it a vital part of the commu nity. Under the ownership of the Euesdens, The Entertainer underwent a remarkable transformation. It was reborn as ‘The Euro Weekly News’, reflecting a broader vision and a commitment to serving the foreign population in Spain. This multiple award winning publication became a trusted com panion, with a tapas journalism style, it de livered positive news, connected communities, and uplifted spirits. Over the years, The Euro Weekly News has been a strong promoter of Spain. It has showcased the beauty of its coastal towns, the rich culture, and the vibrant communi ties. Through its pages, readers have discov ered the hidden gems of Spain, from its pic turesque landscapes to its culinary delights. Moreover, The Euro Weekly News has been an active supporter of local charities. It has used its platform to raise awareness about important social causes and to mo bilise community support for those in need. The publication’s commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of its readers goes beyond journalism; it’s a testament to the Euesdens’ dedication to community ser vice. In 2023, The Euro Weekly News stands more relevant than ever. The landscape of the foreign population in Spain has seen sig nificant changes. An influx of residents from Northern European countries has reshaped the community. While they may not speak

Michel & Steven Euesden.

Spanish fluently, the uni versal language of English binds them together, and The Euro Weekly News has become an indispensable re source, bridging language gaps and offering valuable information to this diverse readership. This remarkable milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the loyal sup port of advertisers and sponsors who have been partners for over a quarter of a cen tury. Their trust and unwavering commit ment have been instrumental in the publi cation’s continued success, enabling it to deliver quality journalism and community support. Last but certainly not least, the cherished readers deserve special recognition. Your in teraction, your love for the paper, and your unwavering dedication have breathed life into its pages. Your continued support has made The Euro Weekly News more than just a newspaper; it’s a trusted companion that enriches your lives and connects you with your community. As The Euro Weekly News celebrates its 2,000th edition, it’s an opportune moment to express gratitude to the entire Euro Weekly community the team, advertisers, sponsors, and readers. Your collective ef forts and unwavering commitment have made The Euro Weekly News an indispens able part of life along the Spanish coastline. Looking ahead, The Euro Weekly News stands poised to continue developing and growing, evolving with the changing demo graphics and needs of the foreign popula tion in Spain. It remains dedicated to its mis sion of informing, connecting, and inspiring the European community in Spain. In closing, let us raise a toast to The Euro Weekly News and its remarkable journey. Here’s to the future, to many more editions, and to the ongoing story of a publication that has become an essential part of our lives along the sunny shores of Spain. Thank you for being a part of this incredi ble journey, and VIVA ESPAÑA!

EWN

euroweeklynews.com II LOCAL NEWS

2 - 8 November 2023

Healthcare summit Catherine McGeer INAUGURATING the healthcare summit that positions the Region of Murcia as a hub for shaping healthcare policies in Europe, the President of the regional government, Fernando López Miras, praised the Spanish healthcare system as one of the best globally. He called for the creation of a new General Healthcare Law and a Primary Care Action Plan, aiming to enhance the national health-

care system. López Miras said the importance of unified efforts to improve healthcare and stressed that Spain should coordinate its healthcare strategies with Europe. He highlighted the need for a robust Medical Residency (MIR) programme with 1,000 additional spots for Family and Community Medicine and additional mental health professionals to meet the rising demand, exacerbated by the global pandemic.

Xmas joy THE Spangles Chorus group is thrilled to announce their upcoming Christmas show, set to be a musical extravaganza filled with joy and nostalgia. The event is scheduled for December 7, it begins at at 3.00pm at the Centro Las Claras in Los Narejos, Los Alcázares. This year’s Christmas Show promises to be an unforgettable experience, featuring the extraordinary talents of Barrington and Margaret McDonald as

PROVERB OF THE WEEK “There is no time like the present.” Meaning don’t wait to do something – do it now. This saying was first heard in 1562 and it remains true.

guest singers. Barrington will transport the audience into the heart of Motown with his soulful melodies, while Margaret McDonald will take you off to the land of Barbra Streisand. Tickets are just €8 but act fast, as seating is limited. To book email info@spangleschorus.com or WhatsApp 607 550 717.

2m+ The amount of saunas in Finland.

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Rental crisis Catherine McGeer THE Region of Murcia has seen a significant 25 per cent drop in its rental property supply since the introduction of the Housing Law in May. This decline in rental availability has been exacerbated by a surge in demand, which is growing at double the national rate, causing real estate agents to raise concerns about rising prices. According to a study conducted by the National Federation of Real Estate Associations (FAI), the unintended consequences

Image: Shutterstock/ Lina Zavgorodnia

Murcia’s rental market dilemma.

of the Right to Housing Law include a 7.3 per cent increase in typical rental prices in the region compared to the previous year. However, this increase is slightly below the national average of 9.2 per cent.

Storytelling event THE San Javier Library is channelling the mystery of the week, extending an invitation to explore Spain’s mythical creatures in their upcoming Storytelling event. On Saturday, November 4, at 12 noon, in the auditorium of San Javier Library, attendees can go on a captivating journey into the realm of Spanish folklore and its legendary beings. This is an opportunity not to be missed, as you immerse yourself in the enchanting world of myths and legends.

The rental supply in Spain has also decreased by 30.57 per cent, though demand has improved at a more moderate 11.01 per cent, resulting in nearly double the rate of increase in the Region of Murcia. The Housing Law’s regulatory changes have prompted landlords to tighten tenant requirements, raise rents, and consider shifting properties to the sales or tourist rental markets. The unintended consequences highlight the need for a balanced housing policy that addresses both supply and demand issues.

NEWS II euroweeklynews.com

2 - 8 November 2023

Turtle territory Say cheese San Pedro del Pinatar Town Hall

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR: A haven for sea turtle.

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR has taken significant steps to protect the vulnerable loggerhead sea turtles in the region. Recent reports highlight the town’s commitment to environmental conservation through its involvement in the ‘Territorio Tortuga’ (Turtle Territory) project. Several loggerhead sea turtles were found with limb injuries, thanks to concerned citizens who reported the cases. These injured turtles were subsequently rehabilitated at the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre. The President of the Autonomous Community, Fernando López Miras, along with the mayor of

San Pedro del Pinatar, Ángela Gaona, the Minister of Environment, and the Deputy Director of the Biodiversity Foundation, have actively supported these efforts. ‘Territorio Tortuga’ is a project initiated by the Directorate General of Natural Environment to raise environmental awareness about the vulnerability of sea turtles and to educate the public on how to respond when encountering nesting attempts. San Pedro del Pinatar’s commitment to this project reflects its dedication to preserving the rich marine biodiversity and promoting responsible environmental stewardship.

THE team at Quesos Ruperto from El Mirador in San Javier is brimming with excitement and gratitude as they were honoured at the prestigious World Cheese Awards held in Trondheim, Norway, with an impressive collection of four medals for their artisanal cheeses. Two of these accolades have achieved the coveted ‘Super Gold’ status, the highest distinction in this renowned competition. Among a staggering array of 4,800 cheese entries, these medals stand as a remarkable achievement. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and passion invested in a project that came to life just six years ago. The significance of this award extends beyond the confines of their team. They are eager to share this success with their unwavering supporters - distributors, stores, customers, restaurants, followers, and enthusiasts alike. To them, these accolades are a symbol of the collective effort and dedication of all those who have played a part in their journey.

EWN

LOCAL NEWS

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2 - 8 November 2023

Swimming gala THE world of Murcian swim ming came together on Sat urday, October 29, in San Javier to celebrate the 2022 2023 Gala of the Murcia Re gional Swimming Federation. After a twoyear hiatus, the Federation chose San Javier’s Príncipe Felipe Pavilion as the venue for their annual event. San Javier’s mayor, José Miguel Luengo, and the Fed eration’s President, José Luis Morales, inaugurated the an

nual gala, with the presence of the Sports councillor, Ser gio Martínez, and a strong contingent of local swimmers from CN San Javier, Mar Menor, and Waterpolo San Javier, serving as gracious hosts. The Gala, graced by the in ternational swimmer Alberto Martínez Murcia, saw the presentation of over 250 awards across various re gional, national, and interna

tional categories, with the athletes of San Javier making a notable mark in the pro ceedings. This event not only cele brated the achievements of Murcian swimmers but also showcased the resilience and dedication of the swimming community after many chal lenges. The choice of San Javier as the venue added a touch of regional pride to the occasion.

Mr Gay World JAVIER YESTE from Aguilas in Murcia, the win ner of Mr Gay Spain 2023, travelled to Cape Town to represent Spain at Mr Gay World 2023. His arrival in Cape Town marked his first international journey. Javier expressed his en thusiasm for the experience, praising the city’s beauty and the camaraderie among contes tants. He highlighted the importance of his roommate and friend, who serve as his transla tors during the contest! Javier really enjoyed the experience and showcased Spain’s culture through a national costume designed in collab

oration with Salvador Hernández. Moreover, he highlighted a vital social campaign to the contest, ‘Unidos contra el bullying: Celebrando la diversidad’, aiming to combat bullying, espe cially among foreign children and LGBTQ+ ado lescents. Spain is proud to have such a passion ate and dedicated representative, ready to make a lasting impact on the world stage. Mental Health advocate Troy Michael Smith who represented the US Island territory of Guam was crowned Mr Gay World 2023. David Allwood from the UK was the first runnerup.

EWN

10 EWN 2 - 8 November 2023

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LOCAL NEWS

Road safety

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR Town Hall is making significant strides in enhancing road safe ty on key stretches of road within the municipality. Thanks to the support of €1.1 million from the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, the ‘Crossing Plan’ is now in motion and set to con clude by the end of the year. This initiative targets road sur face repairs, resurfacing ef forts, and a complete overhaul of signage on three pivotal roads in the area. The selected roadways in

clude the Avenida de la Romería de la Virgen del Car men, the entrance to San Pe dro del Pinatar from the A7 motorway via Los Tárragas,

3km Average distance cycled daily by people in Copenhagen.

and the entrance to El Mojón from the roundabout. These roads will see road surface im provements, resurfacing pro cedures, and updates to sig nage, paths, and lighting. This comprehensive plan, now underway in Los Tárragas and El Mojón, will soon extend to Avenida Romería de La Vir gen del Carmen in Lo Pagán. The plan not only bolsters road safety on these hightraffic routes but also positions San Pedro del Pinatar as a more appealing tourist and business hub.

FINANCE Sweet music STOCKHOLMBASED Spotify announced third quarter prof its of £28 million (€32 million), compared with its £199 mil lion (€228 million) loss for the same period last year. The dig ital music company is back in the black after adding another six million paying subscribers, two million more than it had anticipated.

Goodbye kiss TELEFONICA is offering com pensation of up to four years’ salary to the corporation’s di rectors and managers who agree to leave the group. The proposals to directors aged 55 or over are another step in the telecommunications compa ny’s bid to reduce overall staff numbers in subsidiary compa nies by 5,000.

Rude gesture BRITAIN’S Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of Eng land confirmed that the cap on bankers’ bonuses which the Eu ropean Union introduced fol lowing the financial crisis of 2008 has been discarded. The UK’s unions said the decision, which it described as obscene, was “an insult to working peo ple.”

Mango men CATALAN fashion retailer Man go, has doubled its sales of men’s clothing since the end of the pandemic and expects to have opened 560 outlets for its Mango Man line by the end of this year. It also foresees a record turnover of €325 million for this year, a 15 per cent in crease on 2022.

Drink up IRN BRU manufacturer AG Barr, based in Cumbernauld (Scotland), bought the Rio fruit drink which it has distributed and marketed since 2001 from Hall and Woodhouse for £12.3 million (€14.1 million). AG Barr told investors that the pur chase was made possible thanks to its “strong net cash position.”

euroweeklynews.com • 2 - 8 November 2023

STAT OF WEEK

€5.4 billion

in pre-tax profits for 2023 was predicted by Spanish power company Naturgy, €400 million more than its original estimate thanks to the ‘current energy panorama’.

Making a fortune Linda Hall CONSUMERS in the UK lost £580 million (€665.12 mil lion) to scammers in the first six months of 2023. Overall, this was 2 per cent lower than during the same period last year, al though the banking sector’s association, UK Finance, which collates data for high street banks, warned that households will lose more than £1 billion (€1.15 billion) by the end of December. Identity theft, where criminals steal personal in formation to take over an existing bank account or ap ply for a credit card, saw the biggest increase and rose by more than half to £33 mil

Photo credit: Pixabay/Terimakasih0

BUSINESS EXTRA

ONLINE FRAUD: Millions lost to scammers.

lion (€37.8 million) com pared with the same period last year. Authorised push pay ment (APP) cases, where victims where are tricked in to making online transfers for goods that never materi alise, increased by 22 per cent to £239.3 million

IBERDROLA is selling a €2 billion 49 per cent stake in its East Anglia 3 windfarm to the Abu Dhabi company, Masdar. Neither Iberdrola nor Masdar was prepared to confirm the agreement or even comment on it when reports first filtered through on October 24. Nonetheless, industry sources quoted in the financial daily, Cinco Dias, were confident that the deal would go through. Construction on the East Anglia 3 wind farm located in the North Sea off the Scottish coast began last year and should be operational by 2026. With a 1.4gigawatt capacity and ca pable of generating enough electricity

(€274.4 million) in personal and business losses. Nevertheless, cases where criminals posing as a bank or the police persuad ed members of the public to transfer money into a sup posedly secure online ac count fell by 35 per cent. Messages issued by the

banks themselves insisting that they would never make this kind of request have begun to sink in, UK Fi nance said. The association drew par ticular attention to a 29 per cent increase in ‘romance scams’ where fraudsters conduct online relationships aimed solely at obtaining money, generally made in multiple payments, from targets who are often vul nerable and not particularly welloff. Describing these stings as ‘particularly nasty’ UK Fi nance found that victims lost £18.5 million (€21.2 mil lion) between January and the end of June.

Iberdrola’s Abu Dhabi deal Photo credit: CC/Pontificalibus

OFFSHORE WINDFARM: Iberdrola’s East Anglia hub.

to supply approximately 1.3 million homes, it belongs to the Spanish multinational’s mammoth offshore East Anglia Hub which is the compa ny’s largest renewables project to

date. Last summer, Iberdrola engaged Goldman Sachs to find a buyer for a 49 per cent stake in East Anglia 3, with chairman Ignacio Sanchez Galan even tually choosing Masdar, the renew able energy arm of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala. Masdar, whose investments in 40 countries are worth an estimated €30 billion, also paid €1.6 billion last July for a 49 per cent stake in Iberdrola’s secondlargest offshore project, the Baltic Eagle offshore windfarm 30 kilo metres off Rugen Island in Germany.

Record broken

Flat beer sales

Low batteries

SANTANDER has reported at tributable record profits of €8.14 billion during the first nine months of 2023. This was 11.3 per cent more than during the same period in 2022, putting the bank on course for ‘historic’ figures, thanks in part to a strong in crease in revenues, particularly in Europe and Mexico. Santander’s third quarter at tributable profits of €2.9 billion were 20 per cent up on last year, announced Santander’s execu tive chairwoman Ana Botin. “The group has achieved an other record quarter with earn ings per share up 17 per cent and a return on tangible equity of 14.8 per cent,” she said.

HEINEKEN sold less beer in the UK last summer owing to a 7 per cent price rise and cool, rainy weather that checked outdoor partying. Dolf van den Brink, chief executive at Heineken, which also owns Amstel, Birra Moretti and Tiger, blamed July and Au gust’s “adverse weather” although sales picked up in September. Beer sales throughout Europe fell by 7.6 per cent while prices rose by around 12 per cent owing to inflation and the growing popularity of premium ales and lagers. Globally, the volume of sales dropped 4.2 per cent as prices rose 9.5 per cent, accounting for sales of €9.6 billion for the third quarter of the year. Price inflation had slowed but there was less demand, with some markets facing “challenging macroeconomic con ditions,” Van den Brink said.

A £1 BILLION (€1.15 billion) allo cation for improving Britain’s electric vehicle (EV) charging fa cilities has not yet been used. Announced by Rishi Sunak three years ago when the now PM was Chancellor of the Exche quer, the charging points were to have been installed at motorway service stations. The fund is not yet accessible to applicants, while a pilot scheme scheduled for the end of 2022 was initially postponed un til spring 2023 and subsequently to this summer. Sources in the EV sector have now told the UK media that the trial was “unlikely” to launch be fore Christmas and could be de layed until after a general elec tion.

A major issue SHARON WHITE, John Lewis chair, called on the police to allocate more resources to shoplifting and record all retail crime incidents. She also wanted to see more stringent sentences for assaulting or abusing a retail worker, The Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, now suffers a £12 million (€13.75 million) yearon year increase in theft, White said. Matt Hood, who heads the Co op grocery chain, also voiced frus tration at the lack of action against shoplifting which had cost the retailer £33 million (€37.83 million) during the first six months of this year. This was becoming a major is sue, Hood warned in September.

Messi’s own goal LIONEL MESSI’s branding compa ny MGO Global received a Nas daq delisting warning after its shares lost 90 per cent of their val ue. These were originally worth $5 (€4.7), giving MGO Global a value of €58 million when it was floated last January. Instead, the company has failed to cash in on the name of the champion foot baller who now plays for Inter Mi ami, coowned by David Beck ham. Messi receives a 12 per cent royalty for lending his name and image to merchandise, but slow sales have resulted in the Nasdaq warning.

Tiktok standoff EMPLOYEES at Majorel, the Barcelona company which moder ates content for internet platform TikTok, announced an indefinite strike. Insistence on inperson working was the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” announced Work ers’ Solidarity and Unity (SUT), the union representing the employees. The veto on working from home was the latest episode in a long his tory of nonpayment, contract ir regularities and ‘mortifying hours’. Together with moderating content that was frequently violent con tent, their working conditions were having a detrimental effect on employees’ mental health, the union maintained.

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+9,60

+1,60%

NET VOL

COMPANY

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0549 Japan yen (JPY)........................................158.69 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9527 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4623 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.790

+4,60

+1,17%

146,21K

-0,20

-0,04%

79,94K

Melrose Industries

469,50

+5,90

+1,27%

96,29K

Mondi

1.317,00

+7,50

+0,57%

26,35K

National Grid

994,20

+13,00

+1,32%

256,38K

NatWest Group

182,25

+0,35

+0,19%

2,83M

6.900,0

+78,0

+1,14%

4,93K

DOW JONES

Ocado

483,89

+1,40

+0,29%

95,86K

CLOSING PRICES 30 OCTOBER

Persimmon

1.002,5

+17,3

+1,76%

27,00K

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE

CHANGE% VOLUME(M)

Phoenix

453,90

+8,10

+1,82%

93,79K

Prudential

865,40

+22,00

+2,61%

228,73K

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

87,52 141,31 261,57 168,22 179,69 238,56 144,35 51,56 55,24 48,11 289,91 276,46 177,00 142,52 35,54 145,60 135,69 255,76 102,82 329,81 97,98 147,16 196,57 160,68 524,66 33,44 229,27 21,14 161,17 79,33

-1,13 -2,03 -8,14 +1,33 +0,60 -3,87 -10,40 +0,19 -0,54 +0,09 -7,08 -1,54 +0,94 -1,24 +3,02 -3,40 -5,07 -0,07 -2,73 +1,92 -2,04 -2,64 +0,32 -3,78 -3,70 -1,03 -2,01 -0,56 -0,60 -0,45

-1,27% 3,29M -1,42% 3,37M -3,02% 2,85M +0,80% 57,95M +0,34% 4,57M -1,60% 3,21M -6,72% 24,44M +0,37% 13,11M -0,97% 13,61M +0,19% 4,71M -2,38% 2,54M -0,55% 2,89M +0,53% 3,37M -0,86% 5,45M +9,29% 82,02M -2,28% 11,38M -3,60% 17,22M -0,03% 3,20M -2,59% 8,93M +0,59% 29,73M -2,04% 9,51M -1,76% 7,73M +0,16% 3,14M -2,30% 1,35M -0,70% 2,57M -2,99% 23,91M -0,87% 5,54M -2,58% 9,17M -0,37% 4,60M -0,56% 10,26M M - MILLION DOLLARS

1.099,90

+16,50

+1,52%

153,65K

Barclays

130,60

+1,40

+1,08%

2,57M

413,40

1.14585

0.87212

London Stock Exchange

BAE Systems Barratt Developments

PRICE(P)

+6,00

+1,47%

80,22K

Berkeley

4.043,0

+64,0

+1,61%

3,99K

BHP Group Ltd

2.384,00

+23,00

+0,97%

14,52K

531,80

+1,30

+0,24%

1,31M

British American Tobacco 2.432,5

+29,5

+1,23%

191,89K

British Land Company

297,80

+2,60

+0,88%

30,63K

BT Group

112,50

+1,85

+1,67%

188,46K

Bunzl

2.929,0

+35,0

+1,21%

13,12K

Burberry Group

1.713,0

+19,0

+1,12%

39,03K

Carnival

840,4

-0,6

-0,07%

19,25K

Centrica

158,10

+3,00

+1,93%

278,14K

Coca Cola HBC AG

2.139,4

+38,0

+1,81%

11,44K

Compass

2.082,58

+22,00

+1,07%

57,79K

CRH

4.367,0

+47,0

+1,09%

29,39K

Croda Intl

4.311,0

+31,0

+0,72%

DCC

4.487,0

+59,0

+1,33%

Diageo

3.074,5

+50,0

DS Smith

279,60

EasyJet Experian Ferguson

Reckitt Benckiser

5.510,0

+58,0

+1,06%

58,63K

Relx

2.845,00

+28,00

+0,99%

105,23K

Rentokil

427,30

+6,20

+1,47%

240,86K

Rightmove

492,05

+12,90

+2,69%

158,16K

Rio Tinto PLC

5.275,0

+75,0

+1,44%

172,05K

Rolls-Royce Holdings

202,30

+1,90

+0,95%

668,91K

Sage

978,00

+10,00

+1,03%

42,47K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.250,00

+15,00

+1,22%

0,68K

Schroders

366,1

+4,1

+1,13%

20,44K

3,79K

Scottish Mortgage

643,02

+0,60

+0,09%

129,01K

2,09K

Segro

695,26

+4,60

+0,67%

46,55K

+1,65%

68,65K

Severn Trent

2.628,0

+23,0

+0,88%

15,18K

+3,30

+1,20%

51,28K

Shell

2.705,5

+5,0

+0,18%

277,65K

368,70

+5,30

+1,46%

116,07K

Smith & Nephew

912,00

+16,20

+1,81%

57,51K

2.403,0

+13,0

+0,54%

41,73K

Smiths Group

1.604,00

+34,00

+2,17%

26,33K

12.635,0

+15,0

+0,12%

1,71K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 8.188,0

+48,0

+0,59%

2,58K

Flutter Entertainment

12.870,0

+90,0

+0,70%

5,57K

SSE

1.626,00

+19,50

+1,21%

63,14K

Fresnillo

553,71

+3,60

+0,66%

18,12K

St. James’s Place

636,00

+17,60

+2,85%

124,28K

Glencore

448,70

+3,45

+0,78%

1,37M

Standard Chartered

616,80

+6,20

+1,01%

420,36K

GSK plc

1.445,60

+12,40

+0,86%

167,81K

Taylor Wimpey

110,43

+1,55

+1,42%

530,98K

Halma

1.824,5

+1,5

+0,08%

16,78K

Tesco

274,12

+1,70

+0,62%

259,14K

Hargreaves Lansdown

713,00

+7,40

+1,05%

43,83K

Tui

421,16

+10,40

+2,53%

66,47K

Hikma Pharma

1.927,00

+14,50

+0,76%

7,14K

Unilever

3.854,0

+32,5

+0,85%

121,99K

HSBC

607,80

+6,80

+1,13%

3,96M

United Utilities

1.060,00

+6,00

+0,57%

24,04K

IAG

143,43

+1,30

+0,92%

1,27M

Vodafone Group PLC

76,99

+0,89

+1,17%

1,77M

Imperial Brands

1.750,62

+21,50

+1,24%

80,93K

Whitbread

3.317,2

+27,0

+0,82%

10,93K

Informa

716,80

+15,00

+2,14%

100,71K

WPP

713,40

+18,20

+2,62%

142,35K

currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 30 OCTOBER

COMPANY Most Advanced Deckers Outdoor Corporation MSP Recovery, Inc. ArcBest Corporation Siemens Energy AG Comfort Systems USA, Inc. Siemens Energy AG CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited DexCom, Inc. Fujitsu Limited Intel Corporation Capital One Financial Corporation

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+18.94% +16.55% +16.22% +15.20% +14.55% +13.05% +10.96% +10.11% +9.99% +9.29% +9.19%

1.821M 1.942M 1.338M 181,114 657,864 24,936 16,205 14.955M 106,371 84.128M 6.525M

-24.87% -19.56% -19.13% -14.65% -14.37% -12.99% -12.58% -12.40% -12.25% -9.94% -9.88%

4.422M 710,519 15.523M 19.391M 1.221M 3.83M 281,773 376,249 186.428M 7.259M 13.39M

Most Declined Chart Industries, Inc. Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Sanofi Enphase Energy, Inc. Exponent, Inc. NatWest Group plc Rémy Cointreau SA The Boston Beer Company, Inc. Ford Motor Company Bloom Energy Corporation Newell Brands Inc.

FINANCE

euroweeklynews.com

ASK THE EXPERT Peter Loveday

Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com

Euro EUR/GBP: Up from £0.86 to £0.87 EUR/USD: Unchanged at $1.05 The euro traded in a wide range over the past month, with the single currency fluctuating in response to some mixed Eurozone data and its negative correlation with the US dollar. In the last week of September, the single currency was pressured by both a strengthening US dollar as well as a deterioration in German business and consumer morale. As we entered October the euro initially faltered in response to weak Eurozone retail sales figures, before stronger-than-expected Germany factory orders helped to revive EUR sentiment. EUR exchange rates then wavered in mid-October as mixed Eurozone data, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and some hawkish European Central Bank (ECB) comments also infused volatility into the single currency.

2 - 8 November 2023

CURRENCY OUTLOOK: EURO UNDERMINED BY DOVISH ECB, POUND BUFFETED BY GLOOMY DATA The euro then stumbled at the end of October following the ECB’s latest policy meeting, following a dovish hold from the bank. Looking ahead, EUR sentiment is likely to be primarily data driven, with the euro likely to face resistance if upcoming economic releases continue to disappoint. Pound GBP/EUR: Down from €1.15 to €1.14 GBP/USD: Unchanged at $1.21 Trade in the pound has also been volatile in recent weeks in response to some uneven UK data and fluctuating market sentiment. Sterling closed September on a broadly positive note as it was lifted by positive risk flows and an upwards revision to first quarter GDP. GBP exchange rates appreciated further at the start of October, buoyed by upwardly revised PMIs and comments from Bank of England (BoE) Deputy Governor Ben Broadbent, who refused to rule out another interest rate hike.

OCTOBER: The euro initially faltered in response to weak Eurozone sales.

The pound’s fortunes then soured in the second half of the month after the UK’s latest GDP figures failed to temper UK recession fears. The disappointing data then continued, with signs of a slowing UK labour market, a startling plunge in retail sales and another contraction in private sector growth all pilled pressure on Sterling. Looking ahead, the focus for GBP investors will now turn to the BoE’s latest interest rate decision at the start of November. The bank is wide-

ly expected to leave interest rates on hold, which could exert pressure on the pound, particularly if policymakers are coy regarding the possibility of hiking again in the future. US Dollar USD/GBP: Unchanged at $0.82 USD/EUR: Unchanged at €0.94 The US dollar fluctuated over the past four weeks amid shifting Federal Reserve interest rate expectations and risk-off flows. Fed policymakers adopted a broadly dovish outlook in October,

EWN 15

with multiple officials suggesting that a recent surge in US Treasury yields might make further monetary tightening from the bank redundant. Some mixed US data muddied the water a little however, with strongerthan-expected inflation and a robust non-farm payrolls print suggesting there might still be room for the US central bank to raise rates. At the same time, the US dollar also found support in recent weeks as the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas weighed on market risk appetite and bolstered demand for safe-haven assets. The Federal Reserve’s impending interest rate decision will be in the spotlight at the start of November. While USD investors are confident the bank won’t alter interest rates this month, the US dollar may strengthen if the Fed leaves the door open to raising rates again in the future. Currencies Direct have helped over 430,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 Spain +34 950 478 914 • Email euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com.

euroweeklynews.com

Onward and upward LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT SO, there I was, waking up in a suite of the plaza hotel New York, looking forward to a date with one of the most famous female artists in the world, the hugely talented Diana Ross of the Supremes. According to Mary, one of the trio members, she was ‘really gonna love me’ and that evening, after we watched the show in the Wardorf Blue Room would join us at the table, making up a four some with Tom Jones and herself. Believe me if this doesn’t make you feel you’ve actually arrived, you need some kind of mental assessment. Central Park looked lovely as I viewed it through the spacious windows of the hotel suite and, after ordering breakfast, languished on the bed pe rusing the 13 channels on an Ameri can TV, (when the UK was still only managing to present three!) Around 11 or so I decided to ring Tom.

Although they were at a different hotel he had given me the code need ed to obtain a connection through the operator. (Still a necessity for pri vacy in the lives of laddie dah’s of our world!) No reply. Dozing off I decided to call later. After all he’d had some night. (Hopefully mine was yet to come!) Still no reply. They were staying at the Wardorf, so I decided to give it one more try and go for as stroll in the park. I tried again. Mary answered. ‘Hey baby’ slurred a bleary voice. ‘We’re not up yet. Try us later’. With that she dis connected. I’m not too sure what came over me at that point. I didn’t want to be a pain. I was certainly rid ing high myself; en route to Nashville, where I was about to become the first Limey ever to appear at the Grand ol Oprey! I decided to go for a jaunt around New York. Later, after a couple of beers, I found myself in the first 24 hour picture house I had ever experi enced. There I made the mistake that I’ve rather regretted ever since, I nod ded off. Difficult to remember how

long I slept, but when I left the cine ma it was actually dark. I decided to return to the hotel. Feeling a bit em barrassed about my situation; plus the fact I was already late, I elected to give the promises of an evening with the Supremes and Tom a miss. What a berk. I spent the rest of the night watching telly and having a few lone drinks in the hotel suite. The next morning, before I left for the air port, I gave Tom a ring. Mary an swered and as soon as she realised it was me gave me a real earful. ‘Where the hell were you last night?’ she en thused. Trying to explain I couldn’t get hold of them, didn’t go down too well. ‘We tried to call your room 20 times’ she said, ‘where did you get to’? After endeavouring to explain what had occurred, I finally hung up. Neither were obviously too happy with the result. Apparently Diana was very disappointed. Ah well. On ward. 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

ROCK SLAMS WAXWORK FAMOUS wrestler turned movie star; Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson was chosen by a French Museum to be immor talised in wax. He was the first winner of the Grévin Awards, created by a wax museum of the same name situated in Paris and the sculptors were excited to be given the challenge of creating a life size reproduction of this larger than life character. According to the museum, sculptor Stéphane Barret had to rely on photos and videos to create a figure as close to reality as possible, without ac tually meeting him and they even sent members of the team to several gyms hoping to find someone of similar build. Once the body and fea tures were complete, artists took a painstaking 10 days to The original waxwork reproduce his Samoan tattoos of The Rock and they took three attempts to get his eyes right as they started off as too dark which elongated his face. Finally, they were satisfied with the result but when the fin ished waxwork was unveiled on October 16, there was fan crit icism over the light skin tone of the figure and even the Rock, known for his catchphrase “Smell what the Rock is cooking” joined in the criticism reportedly telling them to “update my wax figure with some important details, starting with my skin colour.” In response, Museum director Yves Delhommeau told the AFP news agency the problem would be resolved and partially blamed the skin tone on a “lighting issue” but he did say The Rock would visit the museum “later on to see if there are other modifications that need to be made.”

Credit: Musée Grévin

16 EWN 2 - 8 November 2023

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to help those Britons in Spain facing extreme finan cial distress and who have no other recourse; friends, fami ly or state support. In that time the expat community has grown a hun dredfold, while the number of visitors has reached heights unforeseen back then. Of the 18 million plus visi tors from the UK to Spain each year the vast majority are without incident and not all visitors are here for a two week break on the beach. Many come to see friends and family, and some come to care for a loved one. Caroline came to Spain to help look after her elderly mother who was suffering from multiple ailments and had mobility issues meaning she could not do the shop ping or any household chores. She lived alone and relied generally on neigh bours. To add to the difficulty, al though her mother had lived in Spain for many years she had not done her paperwork correctly and was therefore

2 - 8 November 2023

Helping with costs Olaf Clayton of BBF.

not officially resident or al lowed to stay in Spain over the prescribed 90day period. She lived off a modest UK pension from her late hus band in a rented apartment which under normal circum stances would be sufficient, but without her daughter her situation was not tenable. They decided that the best thing would be to return back to the UK not her ideal choice as she loved living in Spain but given her circum stances it was the only viable option. The daughter was able to make arrangements to take her home so she could be with her and look after her better but would need help with the considerable cost for moving with an elderly person.

Working with her local consulate and local charity the BBF was able to help con tribute to her repatriation costs and she has now made the move and is living as well as could be expected in her daughter’s home. She is in the process of applying for UK benefits to help with the additional costs which take time under the Habitual Resi dency Test rules, but is confi dent that she will have this in time. We can only help people with your support. If you would like to make a dona tion please visit www.british benevolentfund.org to see how you can make the differ ence. Thank you on behalf of all the beneficiaries for your help. Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF

EWN 17

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

20 EWN 2 - 8 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

Earlier this week, the thorny matter of 90/180 raised its head as one newspaper reported that Spain still wants to appeal to the European Union to allow British passport holders to spend 180 continuous days out of 360 in Spain. Whilst this seems unlikely, we posed the question on the web as to whether this is a good idea and if it is even feasible and received the following comments:

“

The rule is not exclusive to the UK. Robert Faraday

Why should Brits get special treatment. Spain should try and attract more visitors from within the EU. Johm

They cannot change that rule. It’s a common rule for all the Schengen states, since there are no borders, any exception could travel to the other Schengen countries unchallenged. It will not happen, Brexit means Brexit. Rosie

Will the snowbirds be taking the Winter Fuel Allowance whilst spending the winter months in Spain? A benefit denied to resident pensioners. R. Welbourn

No. Brian Rae

Over-tourism and unruly tourists are a problem in many tourist places in Spain. The 90/180 rule may help that situation if most of the tourists are from the UK. If UK people are still complaining about a rule that applies to all third countries, they should have thought about that before they shot themselves in the foot. Sheree Ruiz

Spain has no say in the matter. The rule is not only for the Brits. They made their decision now live with the consequences. Richard Baylor

Road visibility Hi, I have nothing against cyclists, in fact I admire them training for La Vuelta, going up and down these hills in Spain. But are their lives worth less than about €50?

They wear dark or black clothing and are not very easy to see when they go out of the bright sun into a shaded area on the road. It only costs about €50 for front and rear flashing lights and a High Vis bolero jacket that is reflective and fluorescent. I would like to see Trafico introduce compulsory lights on bikes at all times. We motorists have to wear a High Vis jacket if we exit the car on the highway and also most cars now have running lights. Please cyclists spend a little cash to perhaps save your life. Regards John from Terreros

Greta Thunberg I wish I had been as smart, and had the guts to speak out, as did that stupid little girl . Allow me via Wiki to inform you that Thunberg’s rise to world fame made her a leader in the climate activist community. She also faced heavy criticism, much of it mocking her as a naïve teenager. Thunberg’s influence on the world stage has been described by The Guardian and other media outlets as the ‘Greta effect’. She has received numerous honours and awards, including an honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, inclusion in Time’s 100 most influential people, being the youngest Time Person of the Year, inclusion in the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), and multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Not bad for a ‘stupid little girl’ hey Philip. John Little

Greta Thunberg is a grifter and punk little woke chick. Who’s 15 minutes of fame are over… hopefully. D Bath

Clock change I believed that the decision of whether to change at all and to which time zone was to be left to individual countries. Neil Friday

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.

PETS Pet-sitters for only £69/€79 per year! Bobi: World’s oldest dog dies 22 22

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