Costa Blanca • Issue No. 2003 • 23 - 29 November 2023
HELPING HUGO ILMAINEN
GRATIS
GRATIS
Image: HELP Murcia Mar Menor
ON November 5, volunteers from the charity HELP Murcia Mar Menor arrived at Hugo’s Home Farm with a €500 do nation. Hugo’s Home Farm is a reg istered charity in Spain and stands as a sanctuary for equines facing neglect, abuse, or abandonment in the Ali cante/Murcia region. With the mission to reha bilitate and rehome, Hugo’s Home Farm operates with a keen understanding of the importance of finding loving homes for their rescued ani mals. The limited space for equines underscores the ur gency of rehoming, making it a critical component of the centre’s success.
FREE
The charity donated €500 to Hugo’s Home farm.
The farm, though still a work in progress, has opened its doors to the public, offer ing a unique experience for visitors by appointment only. Beyond being a haven for
GENEROSITY UNVEILED
Image: Paul Cunningham
IN a heartwarming gesture of generosity, the Paul Cunning ham Nurses Charity received a special gift on November 15, two brandnew wheelchairs which were kindly donated by the Washington Lodge. Expressing their deep appreciation, the charity extends a sincere thank you to the Washington Lodge for their thoughtful contribution, which undoubtedly enhances the mobility and comfort of those in need. The charitable spirit of Barry and Graham from the Lodge is particularly noteworthy, as they also generously provided a third wheelchair. But the generosity doesn’t stop there. The charity would like to extend a big thank you to Sam, John, and Elizabeth, the owners of Dilly’s Bar, for their wheelchair donation.
NEW WHEELCHAIRS: A sincere thank you.
animal enthusiasts, it has also become a small petting cor ner for younger visitors. The journey of Hugos
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Home Farm is not without its challenges. The ongoing costs, from equine care and veterinary bills to farrier services and UK transport fees, necessitate community support. The recent donation from HELP Murcia Mar Menor is a testament to the power of collective action in creating positive change. If you feel inspired to be a part of this transformative journey, Hugo’s Home Farm welcomes visitors by appoint ment. Simply head to their web site at hugoshomefarm.com or give them a call on (+34) 615 020 758.
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LOCAL NEWS
Aspe champs
OVER the weekend of November 18 and 19, athletes from Aspe showcased their talent and emerged victorious in international competi tions. Mar Pastor, representing the Tres Her manas de Aspe Mountain Sports Club, claimed the top spot in the 65kilometre Costa Blanca Trail race. This highly competitive event, featuring hundreds of national and international ath letes, witnessed Mar Pastor crossing the finish line with an impressive time of seven hours, 28 minutes, and 23 seconds. The success continued with the Aspe Bad CREVILLENTE Council is set to elevate entertain ment to a whole new lev el with the announce ment of the ‘Crevillent Game Party’, a thrilling, free event that promises two days of nonstop fun on November 30 and De cember 1. Held at the Centre Jove ‘Juan Antonio Cebrián’ from 4pm to 10pm, this extravaganza is all set to immerse the youth in the
minton Club, celebrating the achievements of Félix Sanz and Sara Llopis in the Under 15 cate gory. Félix Sanz secured victory in the Spanish U15 International men’s doubles, partnering with his teammate from CB Infante de Murcia. Earlier in the month, Sara Llopis clinched two gold medals in the national championship held at the Carolina Marín Pavilion in Huelva, triumphing in the singles and mixed doubles categories alongside Félix Sanz. Back at home, CD Atlético de Aspe proudly presented its players of the season to enthusi astic fans.
Game Party
captivating world of video games. The mayor, Pedro García Magro, confirmed that this event is tailormade for the techsavvy generation, offering them a chance to revel in the excitement of highly soughtafter enter tainment video games. The event boasts distinct
zones, ensuring a diverse range of experiences for attendees. The ‘gaming zone’caters to 20 users, the ‘mobile zone’ accommodates 60 users, the ‘arcade zone’ welcomes five users, and the ‘virtual reality (VR) simulator area’ is reserved for five users.
LOCAL NEWS
NIBS EXTRA Bonus stir THE consumer bonus initia tive continues to cause a stir in Orihuela. The vouchers lasted just a few hours in the online sale, and on Novem ber 20, long queues formed at the doors of the town hall to purchase those that could be bought in person. In total, €342,482 in consumer bonds have been sold.
Smelly trade ALICANTE’S Guardia Civil dismantled a marihuana plantation in a Catral compa ny. The business owner faces a healthrelated crime for marihuana cultivation. Inves tigations, started in Septem ber due to complaints about odours and manure accu mulation, revealed the dual business happenings.
Selected shorts COSTA BLANCA Film Festi val has introduced a new cat egory this year, recognising the best short film made on a mobile phone. The win ning film will receive €500 and enjoy international recognition through the festi val. The event, running until November 25, will showcase 35 selected shorts, with a to tal prize pool of €2,500.
Pivotal moment JACARILLA Council secured grants amounting to €1,380,000 for the restora tion of the Marquis of Fontalba’s gardens and palace. This significant in vestment marks the munici pality’s most substantial commitment to the historic twohectare complex since its acquisition in 2009. The grants signal a pivotal mo ment for the small commu nity of 2,000 residents.
Vehicle fines ALICANTE City Council dis closed 169 vehicle violations of the parking ordinance in the initial nine months of 2023, averaging 0.6 fines per day. The ordinance restricts the parking of motorcycles, mopeds, cycles, and bicycles in regulated areas, such as blue and orange zones.
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Sail through time 130
EMBARK on a captivating journey through time in San ta Pola, where a remarkable replica of the Nao Victoria, the legendary ship of Magel lan and Elcano, has dropped anchor in the port. This extraordinary vessel, spanning 26 metres in length was meticulously crafted for the Sevilla Expo in 1992. Until November 26, visi tors have the rare opportu nity to traverse six centuries and immerse themselves in the seafaring tales of the first circumnavigation of the
Image: Ayuntamiento de Santa Pola
SANTA POLA: A chance to see the Nao Victoria replica.
world undertaken between 1519 and 1522. As this historical gem graces the Santa Pola port,
its imposing presence stands in stark contrast to the ev eryday sights of tobacco laden boats and fishing ves
sels that dot the maritime landscape of this quaint fish ing village. The Nao Victoria’s grandeur transforms it into a magnet for tourists, draw ing admirers who marvel at its size and historical allure. The Nao Victoria Founda tion, entrusted with the care and management of this and other historic vessels, offers guided tours, book able in advance, allowing visitors to step inside the ship and envision the re markable journeys it once undertook.
Wheel of Tapas BENIJOFAR recently celebrated the conclusion of its annual Wheel of Tapas event by awarding prizes to the fortunate win ners of various contests. The event garnered enthusiastic participation, and the prizes were distributed to individuals who showcased remarkable ded ication to exploring the diverse world of tapas. The grand prize of €500 was awarded to the participant who successfully completed the entire brochure, collecting stamps along the way. Another noteworthy prize of €300 was presented to the win ner who accumulated 10 stamps, showcasing a commendable effort in the gastronomic journey. In addition to these major awards, five participants received €50 each for filling five stamps, adding an element of excitement and reward for multiple achievements. Finally, a dinner for two at the restaurant which was voted Best Tapas which this year was ‘Las Papas Doradas’. Benijofar extends heartfelt thanks to all the participants whose enthusiasm and engagement contributed to the success of the Wheel of Tapas event. The town eagerly anticipates welcoming everyone back next year for another round of culinary exploration and community enjoyment. “IT would be very difficult for me to imagine Christmas in Orihuela without lights,” con firmed the mayor, Pepe Veg ara, when queried about the delay in securing the contract just weeks before the festive season. On November 17, the Ori huela confirmed the tender for Christmas lighting, ensuring that the city will be adorned for the holiday season, albeit with a notable delay com pared to other municipalities il luminating their streets at the end of November and early December, such as Alicante.
Festive glow The festive glow is hoped to grace Orihuela by midDecem ber. The municipal area, both in the urban and coastal zones, will witness the installation of 15 lighting arches, a 30metre luminous curtain, seven signs, several LED projectors, 300 metres of garlands, two struc tural cones (one of 12 metres and another of 14 metres for Christmas trees), Christmas motifs, and even a threedi mensional star, a dodecahe dron.
PHOTOCREDIT: Cruisemapper
AIDA COSMA: The Italian mega cruise ship.
Mega Cruise ON November 19, Alicante witnessed the grand arrival of the Aida Cosma, a colossal Italian mega cruise ship, proudly carrying over 5,000 passengers. As the ship docked in the port, the weather soared be yond 20 degrees, creating the perfect backdrop for a day of exploration. The Aida Cosma, having journeyed from Palma, ex tended its visit until 8.00pm. This generous timeline provided the cruisegoers ample opportunity to weave their own tales through the streets of Alicante. A popular first port of call for many was the iconic Santa Bárbara Castle, perched majestically atop the city. Such was the eagerness to scale its historic heights that queues snaked through the streets, prompting the Local Police to step in, orchestrat
ing traffic on Calle Virgen del Socorro. For others, the allure of the Esplanade proved irre sistible and some opted to head to the Town Hall Square while others mean dered through the main thoroughfares, savouring the unique charm of the city.
STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Festive season ELCHE is set to kick off the festive season on Decem ber 5 with the lighting of Christmas decorations along the main streets, av enues, and commercial hubs. The mayor of Festivities, Inma Mora, emphasised that this event signals the start of a season where residents can venture into the streets and immerse themselves in the joyful Christmas atmosphere. The Christmas celebra tions in Elche promise a plethora of activities cater ing to the entire family. On December 8, the Gran Teatro will host the Christmas proclamation delivered by journalist Juan Carlos Romero. Adding to the festive ambience, the Christmas Square will be unveiled in Plaza de Baix on the 15th, featuring over 20 free con certs scheduled until Jan uary 4. Get ready to embrace the holiday spirit and revel in Elche’s festive delights.
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LOCAL NEWS
INTERVIEW
Interview with panto favourite By John Smith NEWLY arrived in Costa Blan ca to start rehearsals for his role as PC Crackers in Al addin, Fraser Hines spared some time to chat with Euro Weekly News. The very personable Fraz er explained “I have just got back from America, Australia and the Solomon Islands thanks to regular invitations to appear at Dr Who fan conventions, although the
Solomon Islands was a ‘bucket list’ trip as I had seen so many films about Guadal canal in the Second World War.” Frazer was astonished and quite proud to discover that he is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longestrunning companion of The Doctor and said “I think I appeared in 127 episodes between 1966 and 1969 and then have ap peared in a number of An
niversary shows and even this year popped up again in an episode of Tales of the Tardis. “I’m very fond of Dr Who and it’s renewed popularity has allowed me to travel around the world attending different conventions.” Many actors find that eventually they grow tired of playing the same role and Frazer decided to leave Dr Who but just a few years lat er he was cast as Joe Sugden
PROVERB OF THE WEEK “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This proverb, that encourages a positive attitude in the face of adversity, is a paraphrase of a 1909 quote by the Christian anarchist writer, Elbert Hubbard: “A genius is a man who takes the lemons that Fate hands him and starts a lemonade-stand with them.”
in Emmerdale Farm and he played that char acter from 1972 to 1994. “When my contract came up for renew al, I had re cently got married and the hard work of being in a soap was simply too much and I found myself going home in the dark, hav ing a TV dinner, learning lines and then going back to work in the dark so I had to choose between work and marriage.” The decision allowed him to return to the theatre and
Credit: Costa Pantomimes
Frazer as PC Crackers.
have great fun with pan tomime and he has now ap peared in no less than 38 which he believes makes
him the second longest serving panto actor around. He has fought can cer and whilst only claiming that is in remission, he is happy to support various cancer charities and also has spent 40 years as a mem ber of the cricket playing Lord’s Tav erners sports charity and is a proud member of the showbiz charity, the Grand Order of Water Rats. Prior to the pandemic, he had been a regular visitor to Spain and believed that there was a great potential market for panto in the Cos ta Blanca, but this concept has to be put on hold be cause of lockdown. Now he is to appear in Al addin alongside former Em merdale costar Peter Amory and a number of other popu lar performers at the Audi tori Teulada Moraira from November 30 to December 15 (except Sundays). Blessed with an eidetic memory, this means he can not only learn lines very quickly, but can remember lines from other pantos which allows him to ab lib when needed, Frazer is in his element and loves seeing young children in the audi ence in particular as they come to laugh and have fun. As the interview finished, Frazer’s parting words were “Come and see the show, it will be fun, we want to make you laugh and your laughter will help us ensure a top class performance.”
1 in 400 trill. The chance of being born, considering the combination of factors that lead to a unique individual.
LOCAL NEWS
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Deep Connection
xxxImage: Ayuntamiento de Elche
FORMAL TWINNING: Emphasising historical ties.
IN a significant step towards fostering a deep connection, Elche and Guadix (Granada) have initiated efforts to establish a formal twin ning between the two towns. Elche’s mayor Pablo Ruz, highlighted the meaningful nature of this twinning, emphasising the historical ties between the towns, particularly the substantial number of Elche residents with roots in the Guadix region. Acknowledging the significant migration of people seeking better opportunities, the mayor underlined the importance of recognising not only those from Granada who migrated to Elche, but also indi viduals from various parts of Spain who sought work and hope in the town. The mayors and their teams engaged in a working meeting to outline the trajectory of this twinning, exploring potential cultural and political collaborations. Among the shared aspirations is the revival of a historic railway project connecting the Levant with Andalucia, a project that existed until 1985. The visit from the mayor of Guadix also included exploring em blematic places in Elche, such as the Basilica of Santa María and the municipal park, underscoring the cultural and historical richness that forms the foundation for this burgeoning twinning initiative.
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Melody Makers IN the heart of Quesada, a group of passionate voices is gearing up to spread holiday cheer through the power of song. Every Tuesday from 2 4pm, the Lakeview Restau rant transforms into a musi cal haven as the Melody Makers rehearse for their upcoming festive perfor mances. Whether you’re an expe rienced vocalist or someone just looking to explore a new hobby, the doors are wide open, no auditions are required. The Melody Makers pride themselves on being an in clusive group, welcoming singers of all skill levels and backgrounds. With the holiday spirit in full swing, the Melody Mak ers have dedicated their up coming performances to charitable causes. The group’s last practice is December 19, and will take a break until January 23.
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THE Port of Alicante is charting an impressive course, strengthening its growth in cruise stopovers in 2023 with a remarkable surge of 64 per cent in passenger numbers. Surpassing prepandemic figures, the port has not only rebounded from the chal lenges posed by the Covid19 health crisis but is also experi encing exponential growth in
LOCAL NEWS
Sailing success Torre transform cruise traffic, marking a trans formative period over the past two years. In 2019, there was a notice able decline with 43 stopovers and 63,000 passengers com pared to the previous year.
Image: Elena_ch / Shutterstock.com
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ALICANTE PORT: Strengthening its growth in cruise stopovers.
However, 2022 witnessed a resounding recovery, surpass ing figures not seen in over a decade, 59 stopovers and more than 117,000 cruise pas sengers. The forecast for the closure of 2023 is an impressive 84 stopovers, expecting over 192,000 tourists to visit the city, a staggering 64 per cent increase from the previous year. The outlook for 2024 is even more promising, with expec tations of over 100 ships arriv ing, carrying nearly 220,000 people. This strategic significance is underscored by the steadfast commitment of leading cruise
companies, such as MSC, to the Port of Alicante. Despite temporary opera tional decisions influenced by the everevolving geopolitical situation in the countries of the Mediterranean arc, MSC Cruises sees Alicante as a key port.
EXCITING transformations are on the horizon for Torrevieja’s Levante Dam as the local government board greenlights the contracting file for resurfacing and repair works. Despite being one of Torrevieja’s most attractive and fre quented seafront promenades, the Levante Dam has grappled with issues arising from misaligned and deteriorating wooden planks, posing tripping hazards. This initiative not only promises a visual revitalisation but, more importantly, addresses safety concerns, paving the way for an enhanced and inclusive experience for all who cherish this iconic coastal space. Sandra Sanchez, the councillor for Urban Services, has de tailed that the project will span 1,247 linear metres along the walk to the lighthouse. The comprehensive works involve replacing existing cobble stones and wooden planks with a continuous pavement of technological wood in light tones. The addition of stainlesssteel railings will contribute to the aesthetic upgrade. Notably, an accessibility study underpins the project, ensuring compliance with regulations to make the dam usable for all.
FROM November 16 to 19, VisitElche participat ed in the 26th International Inland Tourism Fair representing the tourism offer of Elche to the CastileLeón market. VisitElche, alongside other destinations, com panies, and professional groups, highlighted the diverse tourism opportunities offered by the municipality. The objective was to showcase Elche’s cultur al, heritage, interior, industrial, gastronomic, and active tourism offerings.
Visit Elche This participation in INTUR holds significance considering the potential outreach to the almost 2.5 million inhabitants of Castilla y León and the substantial urban population, with Valladolid alone boasting around 400,000 residents. The fair provided a valuable platform to pro mote Elche’s tourism appeal to a wide and di verse audience.
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A FESTIVE wave has swept over the city of Alicante and it arrived fashionably early this year. Setting the holiday spirit ablaze in the heart of Novem ber, a week ahead of the bustling Black Friday, the cere monial ignition of ornamental lights took place on Friday 17. The cityscape is trans formed into a winter wonder land, with a total of 114 streets decked in holiday fin ery, boasting 1,927 Christmas motifs on street lamps, posters, and trees. Alicante’s festive fervour has stolen a march on other cities like Vigo or Madrid, which are poised to illuminate their streets a week later. While it may not be the first
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Festive wave Image: Ayuntamiento de Alicante / Facebook
LOCAL NEWS
Setting the holiday spirit.
IN a harmonious union of culture and com munity spirit, the Museum of the Sea or chestrated a concert on November 20. The ‘Loving Chopin’ concert featuring the virtuoso pianist, Daniel Curichagua, at the Baluarte del Duque. Beyond being a musical spectacle, this event marks the commencement of a sig nificant bond between Santa Pola and its Polish community, with neighbouring mu nicipalities also becoming part of this cultur al symphony. The Baluarte witnessed not just a concert
Spanish city to twinkle with festive lights, Estepa (Sevilla) claimed that honour on November 3, Alicante stands proudly among the early her alds of the holiday season. Alicante’s Christmas tree has embarked on a journey of its own, changing locations for the fourth consecutive year. From the Town Hall Plaza in 2022 to the Explanada prom enade in 2021 and the Ram bla de Méndez Núñez in 2020, the tree has found a new home on Avenida de la Con stitución this year, standing tall at an impressive 18 me tres.
Union of culture but the intertwining of diverse communi ties through the universal language of mu sic. While on the surface, it may seem like another addition to the cultural space’s yearly lineup, the ‘Loving Chopin’ concert carries a deeper resonance. It serves as a poignant overture to a cul tural exchange that fosters a connection be tween Santa Pola and its Polish residents.
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Pressie appeal GET ready for the most heartwarming opportuni ty of the season! Apanee Torrevieja is hosting a Christmas Bag of Pressies Appeal, and you’re invited to be part of the magic. For just €10, you can buy a number from one to 90, and have the chance to some fantastic prizes! The prizes worth betting on are two original vinyl al bums from the legendary Bay City Rollers, personally autographed by the one and only Les McKeown! Alternatively, you could indulge in a culinary de light with Costa Blanca’s finest fivestar chef, who will craft and present a delectable fivecourse menu with waitress service for four people or embark on a language adventure with one year of online Spanish lessons from James Spanish School. The prizes just keep coming, lucky winners will be able to enjoy an unfor
Image: Casey Shaddock / Facebook
Fantastic prizes.
gettable evening with four tickets to the mesmerising ‘FIRE’ show at the Benidorm Palace and re ceive a €100 voucher for The Celtic Drop 2022, where you can savour de lightful drinks and food. To secure your chance at
these incredible prizes, simply visit The Celtic Drop 2022 at the Playa Flamen ca Centre and meet Laura. You can also reach out to Casey via WhatsApp on (+34) 649 012 184 or drop her an email at caseyshad dock@gmail.com.
LOCAL NEWS
Unseasonably warm THE province of Alicante is ex periencing an unusual weath er phenomenon, with ther mometers recording temperatures above 30 de grees in the middle of Novem ber. Elche has emerged as the hottest municipality in the en tire Valencian Community for this time of year, with tem peratures soaring to 32.6 de grees Celsius, as reported by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet). Pego and Rojales, also from the province of Alicante, se
cured the second and third spots on the podium with temperatures of 31.2 and 30.2 degrees, respectively. These days are charac terised by remarkably high temperatures for this season, followed by rapid drops in temperature once the sun sets. Minimum temperatures have been recorded at 12 de grees in Elche, 15 degrees in Rojales, and 17 degrees in Pego. In the Valencian capital, where temperatures have
RIO Safari Elche is a member of the European programme dedicated to the exsitu conserva tion of Bornean orangutans. As part of this im portant initiative, the park is home to two adult pairs of Bornean orangutans, including the de lightful couple, IndahTessa and Nakal. Nakal, born at London Zoo, and Indah, born in the Czech Republic’s Dvur Kralove Safari Park, were introduced to each other at Río Safari Elche at the end of 2021. The introduction was a success, and the pair is currently thriving in their environment, with In dahTessa seamlessly adapting to her new life. To celebrate IndahTessa’s 13th birthday this month, the park organised a special and
reached 30 degrees, this marks the highest maximum temperature recorded for this time of year since 1985, span ning 38 years, according to Aemet. Notably, there is no record ed instance prior to 1985 (be tween 1869 and 1984) when such temperatures were reached in Valencia during the month of November. The unseasonably warm weather is creating a unique meteorological scenario, cap turing the attention of resi dents and meteorologists.
Turning 13 delectable breakfast surprise for the orangutan couple. Typically, Nakal adheres to a diet of vegeta bles due to his diabetes. However, for this special occasion, the park’s veterinarian approved the inclusion of a delight ful birthday cake featuring a touch of pineapple, red berries, and grapefruit slices. Given Nakal’s diabetes, glucose levels are reg ularly monitored by caregivers, ensuring respon sible and tailored dietary choices.
FEATURE
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As we say goodbye to one UK pension allowance, two new ones replace it The pensions Lifetime Allowance and resulting tax charges was abolished under the UK’s 2023 spring budget. But life is never simple with UK pensions and new tax-free limits are set to replace it.
2) The Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (LSDBA) will apply to lump sums paid on death and is £1,073,100 (the same as the old lifetime allowance).
The budget only reduced the Lifetime Allowance charge to nil from 6 April 2023. HM Revenue & Customs has now published the draft legislation to fully abolish it, and this legislation also sets out how lump sums will be treated from April 2024. The details may change before the legislation is finalised but, given the short time frame before implementation, it is worth seeking clarification on how the proposed rules could impact your planning, in case you wish to take action. With effect from 6th April 2024, two new allowances will test lump sums and lump sum death benefits against a limit.
Under current rules, if you die before age 75, subject to meeting the designated to drawdown rules, your beneficiaries do not pay tax on the death benefits they receive. From April 2024, the age of death is no longer relevant. In all cases, lump sum death benefits paid from uncrystallised or crystallised benefits will only be tax-free if below the deceased’s remaining LSDBA. When a lump sum is paid above these limits, the excess is taxed at the recipient’s marginal rate of income tax.
1) The Lump Sum Allowance (LSA) will apply to payments made during your lifetime and be set at £268,275 (25% of the old lifetime al-
By Jon Pemberton, Partner, Blevins Franks
lowance). This covers pension commencement lump sums (PCLS), uncrystallised pensions and trivial commutation lump sums, and winding-up lump sums (but not transfers to QROPS). Currently, you can take 25% of your pension (the PCLS) tax free. Under the new rules, you will need to have sufficient LSA for it all to be tax free.
No planned inflation increases The draft legislation contains no mechanism for increasing these allowances. It is therefore likely that, over time, the spending value of the tax-free proportion of your pension fund will be eroded by inflation and investment
growth. Lifetime allowance protection The above limits apply to those without Lifetime Allowance protection. If you have taken out protection, this is carried over. Your new Lump Sum Allowance and Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance will be based on your protected Lifetime Allowance. Looking ahead The new rules could be changed or be overturned by a future government. When the Lifetime Allowance was abolished in March, the Labour Party were quick to pledge to reinstate it. With the polls looking encouraging for the Labour Party and the elections having to be held by January 2025, it may not be long before the UK has a new government. There may be limited opportunity to transfer your pension out of the UK and avoid any future lifetime allowance charges. This is a good time to consider how you may use your pension benefits in future and how any balance will be
passed onto your family. Can you take steps now to protect or improve your pensions? Pensions are personal. Your decisions should be based on your circumstances, objectives, risk tolerance and tax implications in the UK and Spain. Taking the wrong approach could have unwelcome consequences, so take specialist cross-border advice covering pensions and taxation. This is a brief summary of complex draft legislation. Seek clarification on how the rules would affect your pensions. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice.
Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com.
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euroweeklynews.com THE era of Artificial Intelli gence (AI) has firmly taken root, and its presence is not just a passing trend; it’s a transformative force re shaping industries across the board. In the realm of tourism, AI emerges as a potent ally, particularly for smaller des tinations aiming to max imise their resources. The Costa Blanca, recog nising the potential, is set to champion the use of AI technology, envisioning it as a catalyst to enhance destination promotion and bolster competitiveness. At the forefront of this strategic initiative are three
AI takes root pillars innovation, accessi bility, and sustainability that the Alicante Provincial Council and the Costa Blan
ca Tourist Board will proud ly showcase at the upcom ing Madrid Tourism Fair (Fi tur). In the context of promo tion, innovation finds its partner in AI. It’s the bridge that con
LOCAL NEWS
nects the inherent ‘natural intelligence’ possessed by people and local talents with the technological prowess that AI brings to the table. Alicante’s institutional in sight emphasises that AI tools can act as enablers, empowering municipalities to create compelling con tent that amplifies their unique tourism offerings.
Port linchpin Image: LookerStudio / Shutterstock.com
Not just a passing trend.
Rubalcava Palace ORIHUELA’S councillor for Urban Planning, Matías Ruiz, recent ly conducted a site visit to the Rubalcava Palace to assess the ongoing rehabilitation works firsthand. At present, the piling work has reached an advanced stage and is anticipated to conclude within the next two to three weeks. This signifies a crucial step toward reinforcing the building, setting the stage for the commencement of the second phase. The councillor confirmed: “There are only 30 micropiles left to finish and start with the tying beams. Let’s say this is the most complicated, long, and slow phase, but once it is ready, we will begin to see clear progress.”
IN a bustling gathering of over 1,800 representatives from institutions and com panies nationwide, the Port of Alicante took cen tre stage at the recent busi ness summit hosted by the Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs (AVE). Their concern? ‘We are risking the future’. The spotlight of the event? The urgent comple tion of the Mediterranean Corridor, a cause champi oned by the AVE. Luis Rodríguez, the Presi dent of the Port Authority of Alicante, was a notable
presence at the summit. He emphasised that the fulfilment of the Mediter ranean Corridor’s construc tion is not just a necessity for the port but a linchpin for the entire province’s journey towards sustain ability. According to him, the railway infrastructure is the backbone that will pro pel this transition, where rail transport is no longer just a mode of moving goods but a dynamic force that injects agility and competitiveness into the logistics hub of the port.
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LOCAL NEWS
Church reopens
SPECIAL MASS: Marked the reopening of the church.
It’s back!
ANTICIPATION is reaching a fever pitch as Torrevieja pre pares to launch its ninth Consumer Voucher initiative! Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 25, at 9am as that’s when the virtual doors swing open for the online sales. For those preferring an inperson experience, starting Tuesday, November 28, from 8am until 1pm, you can se cure a prior appointment at the La Plasa Commerce Office. This sets the stage for a lively journey where appoint ments are granted for the purchase of vouchers at the Of fice of Commerce, running from December 1 to 14, be tween 8am and 8pm (excluding holidays), until stocks vanish. The excitement doesn’t end with the purchase the Con sumer Vouchers obtained can be redeemed at a plethora of affiliated establishments from November 27 to Decem ber 31. It’s your golden ticket to explore and enjoy what the town has to offer! Behind the scenes, this initiative is more than just vouch ers. It’s a powerful investment in the town’s productive sectors, adding an exhilarating boost to Torrevieja’s eco nomic landscape.
TORREVIEJA’S Lago Jardín Church celebrates its cente nary with a special Mass on December 1, marking its re opening after almost four years of closure. Originally a chapel for the now dilapidated Los Bal cones house, the church stands in good condition, with some remedial work still underway. Father Richard A Seabrook SSC, the Priest re sponsible for Lago Jardí n Church, said: “We are thrilled to be able to open this beautiful little church once again and use it for the purpose for which it was built 100 years ago… The church is an architec tural gem.” The church is having two open days on Thursday November 23 and Friday November 24 from 10am 4pm for people to have a look inside before its open ing official inauguration on Friday December 1. There will also be a series of special services through out December and in 2024, regular Sunday Masses at 11.30am will resume, heralding an exciting period of growth for the church’s worship life. For further information you can contact Father Richard A Seabrook on 693 932 438; email him at fr ras@cofetor revieja.com; visit the church’́s Facebook page @anglicantor revieja or go to their website: https://www.cofetorrevie ja.com.
Newly acquired A NEWLY acquired painting is set to find its place of hon our in the Orihuela’s Muse um of Sacred Art. The Cathedral Chapter of Orihuela successfully re claimed the ‘Portrait of Juan Viudes, canon of the Holy Cathedral Church of Ori huela’, an 18thcentury oil oncanvas masterpiece re cently obtained through an auction.
Upon learning that the renowned Segre auction house in Madrid featured a painting depicting an influ ential figure in the cathe dral’s history, Dean José An tonio Gea acted promptly to secure its return to its her itage. Without hesitation, the Diocese participated in the auction with the goal of ac quiring the painting.
Mariano Cecilia, the cura tor of the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art in Orihuela, speculated that the artwork likely belonged to the Vi udes family, known for its deep roots in Orihuela and Almoradi. Over the generations, it may have found its way into the hands of descendants who eventually decided to part with it.
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LOCAL NEWS
FOR the first time in its history, the machinery of the Pinoso Clock Tower is set to leave its original location for repairs due to misalignment issues that have plagued it for several months. The clock has been experi encing a daily delay of 15 min utes and has even stopped working on some days. To preserve this valuable ‘treasure’, the Pinoso Town Council, under the guidance of the Heritage and Tourism De partments led by César Pérez and Neus Ochoa, has decided to invest in repairing the clock. Acquired in 1889, the clock exhibits noticeable wear, and some of its parts are original. Since October 4, the clock’s hour mechanism has not been functioning. The clock, a rare example of an operational, nonelectrified mechanical clock, holds signifi cant cultural and heritage val ue. The maintenance and repair work will be carried out by Tradición en Relojes y Cam
Image: Ayuntamiento de Pinoso
Clocking history Headlining Orihuela panas, a specialised company based in Puente Tocinos (Mur cia). The intervention involves complete disassembly, trans portation to the workshop for
CLOCK TOWER: The machinery is set to leave its original location.
restoration and part replace ment, and subsequent re assembly. The goal is to have the clock ringing to welcome the new year into Pinoso.
No utilities rise ASPE’S mayor, Nieves Martínez Berenguer, has confirmed that there will be no increase in electricity or rubbish collection bills for the residents of Aspe. The council has decided not to pass on the recently imposed pollution rate increase by the European Union to the residents. The mayor emphasised the importance of the residents’ commitment to reducing consumption and increasing recycling. In the context of waste management, the council aims to decrease the overall weight of rubbish generated in the municipality, leading to reduced costs for depositing it in the Elche landfill.
ORIHUELA is poised to steal the spotlight as the chosen venue for the prestigious 2024 ‘Alicante Costa Blanca Tourism and Cruises’ conference and gala. Gonzalo Montoya, the coun cillor for Tourism of the Ori huela City Council, expressed his excitement about this ma jor event, highlighting its ex ceptional potential to show case Orihuela’s abundant cultural and tourist offerings to the cruise sector.
The upcoming seventh ‘Ali cante Costa Blanca Tourism and Cruises’ Conference in 2024 promises to put Orihuela at the forefront of discussions. These sessions will delve in to the diverse benefits of cruise tourism, actively promote the Alicante Costa Blanca brand, and create opportunities for exploring synergies and busi ness prospects within the sec tor. The gala will not only be a glamorous affair but also a
SANTA POLA Sea Museum is making headlines as one of the select few museums in Spain embracing a ‘petfriendly’ ini tiative. Emblazoned with the tagline, ‘Your pet dog is wel come to the Museum of the Sea’, this cultural haven at the Castillo Fortaleza de Santa Pola is rewriting the norms and cre ating a space where visitors can explore accompanied by their fourlegged companions. Already drawing in an im pressive 102,000 visitors be
Paws & waves tween January and October, the museum is now a dynamic cultural centre. With the ‘petfriendly’ rat ing, the Sea Museum stands out as a pioneer, recognising the integral role pets play in the lives of visitors. The surge in museum atten dance, totalling 102,000 visitors in 2023 from January to Octo ber, showcases the public’s keen interest in the rich mar
platform for recognising out standing contributions through the presentation of awards. For Orihuela, being the host city represents a golden oppor tunity to integrate into the cruise tourism circuit, enticing visitors to discover the charms of the capital of Vega Baja. This announcement marks a noteworthy achievement for Orihuela, enhancing its tourism portfolio and solidifying its standing on the cruise tourism map.
itime heritage housed within the Castillo Fortaleza, the Aquarium, and the Portus Ilici tanus. The reopening of the Munic ipal Aquarium last summer and the ongoing free access to the museum until December 31 have undoubtedly con tributed to this cultural renais sance, solidifying Santa Pola as a hotspot for both locals and tourists alike.
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Enticing tourists PHOTOCREDIT: Orihuela Town Hall.
ORIHUELA’S Tourism Department has unveiled a strategic initiative to entice both tourists from the northern regions of Spain and international visitors. The council has orchestrated two distinct campaigns to achieve this goal: a domestic advertising campaign and promotional images on buses. The first initiative encompasses advertising campaigns in bustling locations in Castilla y Leon, the Basque Country, and Asturias. This circuit will span key cities such as Valladolid, Burgos, Gijon, Oviedo, and Bilbao, running for a duration of 15 days. Simultaneously, the second area of action involves promotional images displayed on urban buses in six northern Spanish cities: Valladolid, Salamanca, Leon, Oviedo, Gijon, and Bilbao. The overarching objectives of the campaigns are to attract tourists who typically vacation in other popular destinations on the Costa Blanca (such as Alicante, Benidorm and Altea). Orihuela hopes to capture the interest of new tourists
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ORIHUELA: Two distinct tourist campaigns.
from the northern regions who are intrigued by Orihuela’s rich heritage, the lega-
cy of Miguel Hernández, its pristine beaches, and its golf offerings.
N-332 upgrade IN a significant stride toward a longstanding aspiration, the transformation of the busy N332 road in Torrevieja into a dual carriageway is finally on the horizon. The government has provided Torrevieja Town Hall with the encouraging news that the eagerly anticipated environmental impact study is set to commence. However, an element of contention has surfaced as the local authority reveals that the study’s coverage is limited to just over half of the road within the municipality. Specifically, it addresses the section spanning from the hospi tal junction to the roundabout that leads to the CV905 dual car riageway. Mayor Eduardo Dolón has expressed his concern over this discrepancy and is determined to address the issue.
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Paws & relax Image: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) / Facebook.
Anna Ellis IN the bustling halls of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in Germany, an unconven tional trio Benny the dachshund, Emi the black Labrador, and Pepper the terrier embarks on a daily mission to bring solace to anxious travellers, especially during the hustle and bustle of holiday departures. These canine ambas sadors, with their wagging tails and affectionate de meanour, have become a heartwarming fixture at BER, offering a welcome dis traction for passengers navi gating the stresses of travel. Their presence is particu larly soothing during peak holiday seasons when the terminals are brimming with eager travellers. Since the launch of this in novative pilot programme coinciding with the autumn holidays in Germany, Ben ny, Emi, and Pepper have played a pivotal role in transforming the airport ex perience. This initiative, though un
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BERLIN AIRPORT: Bringing solace to anxious travellers.
conventional, marks a de lightful departure from the norm, showcasing BER’s commitment to fostering a travellerfriendly environ ment. For an airport that has weathered its fair share of challenges, being dubbed a ‘cursed’ airport by German media, this innovative ap proach provides a hearten ing counterpoint. BER, which faced a nine year delay in its opening due to technical difficulties and
corruption suspicions, and exceeded its expected cost by three times, is turning a new leaf with the introduc tion of these canine comfort ambassadors. In the midst of BER’s evolving narrative, Benny, Emi, and Pepper symbolise not just a charming diver sion for travellers, but also a testament to the airport’s dedication to creating a more welcoming and re laxed atmosphere, one wagging tail at a time.
IN a clash of tradition versus environmental consciousness, French cheesemakers are leading a charge against a pro posed EU recycling law that they argue jeopardises one of France’s culinary gems. The contentious draft law aims to eliminate singleuse packaging in favour of recy cled materials, a move that has ignited concerns among cheese producers, particularly those using iconic packaging like Camembert’s distinctive wooden box. The French media has ea gerly embraced the cheese mongers’ cause, accusing the EU of endangering France’s ‘gastronomic treasures’.
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Cheese wars Adding her voice to the out cry, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone cautioned Brussels about the potential for a pub lic relations catastrophe mere months before the European elections. “If we want to caricature Eu rope before the elections, let’s bother Camembert producers and their wooden packaging,” Boone remarked, emphasising the public’s emotional connec tion to culinary traditions. In response to the mounting criticism, a European Commis sion spokesperson reassured
that the law doesn’t outright ban wooden packaging, but may necessitate improve ments in recycling or reusing these materials. This state ment, however, hasn’t as suaged the fears of cheese pro ducers, who argue that implementing a recycling sys tem for wood would be pro hibitively expensive. This battle over cheese packaging echoes past PR challenges for Brussels, harkening back to the notori ous ‘bendy banana’ saga that haunted the EU in the leadup to the Brexit referendum.
Growing old disgracefully Michael Cano COMING within a few days of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, one not so young lady who herself personifies girl power celebrates her 70th birth day on December 19. Minnie the Minx is the third oldest character in children’s comic The Beano and she was in troduced to show that not just boys could be naughty but girls could as well.
For many children, their weekly dose of the somewhat anarchic and mainly workingclass characters of the Beano and Dandy was how they first learnt to read. The French loved Asterix, Babar the Elephant and Cool Hand Luke, whilst Belgium exported the somewhat racist at times Tin Tin, Finland was more laid back with the Moomims whilst children in The Netherlands enjoyed The Smurfs.
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23 - 29 November 2023
IS it ever too early to em brace the festive spirit of Christmas? Dublin Airport certainly doesn’t think so. The managers at Dublin Airport have recently faced criticism after they an nounced they were putting up Yuletide decorations, in the middle of November. Dublin Airport responded to comments it was far too early for Christmas lights and decorations, as evi denced by their humorous comeback to criticism on the social media platform X/Twitter. At 10pm on Thursday, November 15, the airport re vealed on social media that their terminals were already getting a holiday makeover, which was followed by cries of ‘too early’, from some members of the public In response their tweet read, ‘Crikey. All we said was that the Christmas dec orations have started going up in the terminals…,’ which
Credit: Dublin Airport/X/Twitter.com
Too early for Xmas?
DUBLIN AIRPORT: Recently faced criticism.
was accompanied by a screenshot of an unrelated Instagram comment from Selena Gomez stating, ‘I’m taking a break and deleting my Instagram. I’m done.’ The lighthearted com ments continued with pas sengers sharing their views on the appropriate time for Christmas decorations. ‘Hit us full blast with Christmas decorations, songs and cele brations from December 1,’ wrote one person with a clearly defined Christmas schedule.
Another person com mented, ‘I might have to agree, it’s only acceptable to start celebrating after November 20,’ to which Dublin Airport humorously replied, ‘Oh… you might want to avoid The Loop so!’ One man humorously posted: ‘Premature Decora tion is a common problem, your doctor will be able to help you’, which was fol lowed by an equally naughty reply: ‘We’re an airport Adri an. Ensuring things go up in the air is what we do best.’
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Wrong house raid! the incident’, adding that they ‘of course’ apolo gised. The authorities have further said that “we are also in close con tact with them about
how to proceed. How it was possible that the wrong home was entered is of course being investi gated further.” Further information
about the intended ar rest suspect has not yet been released, however it has been reported that they are not in police custody at this time.
Holy restoration A COLLECTION put on display at the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon includes 40 restored pieces and are part of the col lection of the Holy Land Mu seum. They include a silver church lamp which was gifted to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem by King Pedro II of Portugal in the 17th centu ry. The exhibition entitled ‘Treasury of the Kings Mas terpieces of the Terra Sancta Museum’, will be on view un til February 26, 2024. André Afonso, the execu tive commissioner of the exhi bition informed the Lusa agency that the Portuguese lamp was one of those select ed for restoration because it had been found ‘blackened and oxidised by humidity due to its use inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre’. He detailed: “When the museum began developing this project, around two years ago, the Museu da Terra San ta had already drawn our at
Credit: André Afonso on Facebook
POLICE in The Nether lands have unbelievably raided the wrong house, leaving the family living at the home in shock. Imagine sitting down to eat tea on a peaceful Sat urday night, only to have a swarm of armed police suddenly break down the door and run into the house. Well, this is exact ly what happened to one unsuspecting family in the Netherlands recently. On the evening of Sat urday November 11, the police in Schijndel per formed a raid on the wrong house in search of a suspect. A family with three young children were present in their home at the time of the raid. As a result, they were understandably all very shocked. According to the Netherlands police, due to the fact that the search was aimed at a person whose arrest would entail potential safety risks, it was car ried out by the armed po lice unit. They broke down the front door at around 8.30pm, “howev er, it soon turned out that we had made a mis take,” stated the police force. A formal statement re leased stated that the armed unit ‘deeply regret
RESTORED PIECES: Part of the display on show at Lisbon’s Gulbenkian Museum.
tention to the need for inter vention in the conservation and restoration of some pieces from origins such as Portugal, Spain, and Naples, among others.” After traveling twice to Jerusalem to observe the an cient works in detail, those re sponsible decided to: “create synergies with other institu tions to develop a more quali fied project,” Afonso contin ued. “We asked for the valuable collaboration of the José de Figueiredo laboratory, from
the Portuguese State, which was responsible for the scien tific supervision of this entire project. We hired a team of eight restorers and conserva tors who were permanently in the Gulbenkian Museum’s workshops working on these pieces,” he elaborated. A Catholic Franciscan insti tution responsible for looking after Christian places in the Holy Land, the Custody of the Holy Land has been the guardian of this archaeologi cal, artistic and liturgical her itage since 1342.
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Photo: Wikimedia CC / Silar
Kraków Christmas market
CHRISTMAS FAIR: One of the largest in Europe.
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THE flavours and tastes of Christmas are best experienced in the Christmas mar kets. CNN describes the Christmas fair in Kraków, Poland, as one of the most inter esting in the world and one of the largest in Europe. Beginning on November 24, it will enchant you with its unique atmo sphere. The Christmas fair in Kraków was praised, among other things, for its festive atmosphere. The unique architecture of the city, regional traditions and perfor mances by folk groups with live music make the greatest impression on visitors. Stalls of local and foreign merchants and artisans promote Christmas shopping and the discovery of new flavors. Vendors of fer a wide range of products, including handpainted baubles, Christmas tree dec orations, decorative items and Christmas
ornaments, ceramics, wooden products, textiles, artistic glassware, jewellery, sou venirs, postcards and calendars. Also merchants from Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary are present, selling, among other things, cold cuts, cheese and sausages, bread, jewellery made of fabric and wood, linen and wool craft items, sou venirs, ceramics, etc. Last year, the Christ mas fair in Kraków was praised by a British newspaper, which included it among the 24 best Christmas markets in Europe. This year’s edition will be held from November 24 to January 1. Also on the CNN list is the Christmas market in Barcelona. Dating back to 1786, Fira de Santa Llucia has grown from a one day event to commemorate the feast day of Santa Llucia, which falls on December 13, to a threeweek fair.
Environmental scandal AROUND 10 years ago, high levels of the health hazardous chemicals PFAS were measured in the blood of thousands of resi dents of Kallinge in Blekinge, Sweden. Subsequent tests re vealed that in December 2013 there were skyhigh levels of PFAS in the drink ing water of the small min ing town located in Ronne by Municipality. Residents of Kallinge sued the municipal water company Ronneby Miljöteknik after the haz ardous chemicals were found. A verdict by the District Court ruled that the resi dents had the right to
claim for damages but the Court of Appeal subse quently overturned that verdict. Now, the Supreme Court verdict should finally de termine whether the con taminated water drank by the victims entitles them to receive compensation or not. “We know that the resi dents of Kallinge have been exposed to the sub stance, and we know that
8 The number of minutes a day an average person spends laughing.
it poses a health risk. But what proof requirements do you have the right to place on people who have been exposed to such dan gerous substances for such a long time?”, said Mattias Öberg, a toxicologist at Karolinska Institutet. Mattias Öberg suggested this was Sweden’s biggest environmental scandal of all time: “The permitted content of PFAS in drinking water is 90 nanograms per litre, but from 2023, the new and significantly lower limit value of four nanograms began to apply. When PFAS was discovered in Kallinge, it was 10,380 nanograms per litre,” he concluded.
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NEWS ACROSS THE REGIONS FROM THE PEOPLE'S PAPER COSTA BLANCA NORTH
COSTA DEL SOL
AXARQUIA
Photo: Shutterstock
ON LOCATION MALAGA BREAKS RECORDS ARTICHOKES IN NERJA
AND BEER
BENIDORM came alive on November 18 as the city em braced one of its most cher ished traditions, the Festival of the Artichoke. Held annually on the third Saturday of November in the historic Plaza de la Constitu cion, this lively event drew lo cals and visitors alike into a whirlwind of music and gas tronomic delights. Following a mass, the aro ma of sardines wafted through the air in the Plaza de la Constitucion, enticing atten dees to indulge in this seaside delicacy. As the afternoon sun shone, the action shifted to Calle Trinidad, where enthusiasts engaged in a spirited game of raspall. A thrilling variant of Valencian pilota, raspall echoed through the streets. As evening descended, a DJ took centre stage and the live ly atmosphere reached its crescendo with the highly an ticipated beerdrinking con test, a raucous affair that brought cheers and laughter to the Plaza. The revelry continued well into the night.
MALAGA AIRPORT: Has broken the 20 million passenger barrier for the first time ever.
MALAGA Airport has broken the barrier of 20 million passengers annually for the first time ever after 104 years of history. The airport had already been on the verge of reaching that milestone in 2019, the year of its cente nary, when it operated 145,000 flights and came within 140,000 passengers of the record. But Covid changed everything.
Since the beginning of the year, Malaga has been breaking the airport’s records including in July, when it recorded the highest traffic in its history so far with 2,432,411 passengers and 17,320 flights. And, Sunday July 30 also saw the highest daily peak in its history, the maximum number of passen gers served in a single day was
beaten: 86,396. Representatives of the entire airport community joined in the celebrations last week and, to gether with travellers who hap pened to be passing through the airport at the time, everyone en joyed some specially made ‘tor tas locas’ or crazy cakes, a sweet treat famous in Malaga since the 1950s.
THE American director and producer Tosca Musk has started shooting her latest film in Nerja. Titled ‘Wallbanger’, the movie is based on the Alice Clayton novel of the same name. In the storyline, the ac tion begins in the cities of San Francisco and Atlanta but then the two main characters, Caro line and Simon played by Kelli Berglund and Amadeus Serfini decide to go on a romantic getaway and end up in Nerja. Among the locations that will be used during filming are the Balcon de Europa and the beautiful Playa de Calahonda with its famous descent to the beach area. Tosca Musk fell in love with Nerja during a visit to the town last summer which resulted in the younger sister of Elon Musk deciding to include some of her discoveries in this film. Officials from Nerja Town Hall paid a visit to the set and thanked the 49yearold film maker for choosing Nerja as her film’s location and for ulti mately bringing the town to a worldwide audience. In response, Musk thanked the town hall for its collabora tion.
COSTA CALIDA
COSTA ALMERIA
MALLORCA
THE year 2023 has proven to be a historic milestone in the Region of Murcia, marked by soaring temperatures that have surpassed records dating back to 1961. According to meteorological data, the average temperature from January to October has soared to 18.9ºC, surpassing the usual norms by over a degree. This unprecedented warmth signifies a concerning trend in global climate patterns. Murcia, known for its climatic stability, now faces the stark reality of climate change. The impact of rising temperatures extends beyond discomfort; it poses significant risks to agriculture, water re sources, and the delicate balance of ecosystems. Efforts to mitigate these alarming changes must be accel erated. Adopting sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting environmentally friendly policies are critical steps toward safeguarding our planet’s future. It’s imperative for both local authorities and communities to collaborate and prioritise environmental consciousness.
ALMERIA has had its fair share of weird weather recently. From earthquakes to violent storms, then boiling hot weather in November and most recently, heavy, dense fog. Pictures from local residents of Mojacar, a town that was particularly affected by the fog, have emerged on social media, with one resident, Brad Swift, cleverly naming this photo the ‘Pea Soup Paseo’. The weather for this coming week in Mojacar and many other towns in Almeria looks as though this fog will clear and the beating sun will be back on form. As the run up to Christmas draws ever closer, one may say it feels slightly strange to be able to sunbathe on the beach in late November, with some complaining that it is killing the Christmas spirit. However, as frequent Mojacar holidaymaker Nicola Hemsworth simply put it in her Facebook comment on the photo, “I’d still rather be there than in cold, wet Essex!”
IT was in 1969 that Margaret (MilesBramwell) Whittaker OBE founded Slimming World in the UK after struggling with her own weight problems since childhood. Now, more than 50 years later, the Mallorca resident is still very much at the helm of what has become a hugely successful multi million pound company and continues to receive industry and personal accolades. On November 15, she attended the National Business Wom en’s 2023 awards where she had a number of nominations and not only was she the winner in the large business category (for companies with a turnover in excess of £25 million) she was also named overall Business Woman of the Year. The awards were created to recognise women who’ve achieved significant accomplishments in their career, honouring inspiring innovators and visionaries which certainly applies to this successful entrepreneur. On accepting the award, she said: “I’m immensely proud to have been recognised with this award.”
A RECORD YEAR
PEA SOUP PASEO
BUSINESS WOMAN
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Dirty toilets
WITH ‘World Toilet Day’ taking place on Sunday, November 19, the British bathroom specialist com pany Showers to You de cided to conduct a study to establish which destina tions had the cleanest and dirtiest public toilets. Public toilets - which are They analysed more the cleanest or dirtiest. than 8,000 negative Google reviews related the list of cleanliness. to public toilets in each Valletta in Malta occu city, and noting how pied third position in the many times words syn list, with a cleanliness onymous with ‘dirty’ Credit: nito/Shutterstock.com score of just 4.47. As many were used they formed as one in nine reviewers a pointsbased scoring sys public toilet reviews in (11.32 per cent) insinuat tem. cluded words synony ed that Valletta’s public Their study was carried mous with ‘dirty’. toilets were ‘dirty’. out after a recent survey Madrid was second on Malta has a very dry cli suggested that more than the list, with the Spanish mate where water conser three quarters of people capital having a cleanli vation is high on the agen would only use public toi ness score of 4.23. One in da. As a result, many lets if it was absolutely eight reviews (12 per cent) toilets are equipped with necessary. contained words synony dualflush systems to save According to the results mous with ‘dirty’. water. of the study, Riga in Latvia The city’s public conve At the other end of the was the European city niences also scored an av scale, public toilets in Ro with the worst public toi erage rating of just 3.09 mania’s Bucharest were lets. A cleanliness score of out of 5. It was outranked found to be those with 3.44 out of 10 was estab in the top 10 only by War the best overall cleanli lished. Almost one in five saw in Poland (3.08 out of ness, scoring 8.70 out of (18.75 per cent) of Riga’s 5), which also came fifth in 10.
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Enjoy an evening of amazing food IT’S amazing how time has flown, Punjabi Palace at La Marquesa, Quesada, situated at the bottom of the golf course is now in its ninth year and going from strength to strength. If you’ve not been to the La Marquesa restaurant, then you have been missing out on a treat, as the regular diners can vouch for a wonderful view of the golf course, along with an outside ter race that is just perfect for a spot of al fresco dining. The two Punjabi Palace restau rants are synonymous with serv ing up superb quality food cou pled with outstanding service and a friendly atmosphere for you to enjoy your lunch or dinner. That’s why they get so many repeat cus tomers, not only English and Spanish, but Scandinavian, Swedish, Norwegian, French, Ital
SOCIAL SCENE
Full weekend
Image: La Zenia Boulevard
LA ZENIA BOULEVARD: Enjoy a three-day extravaganza.
Superb quality food.
ian and German all come back for an evening of amazing food and the wonderful atmosphere. Both restaurants are open sev en days a week from noon til late, except Tuesdays when they open at 5pm when you can enjoy the popular lunchtime special for on ly €12.95 per person.
A friendly atmosphere.
At Punjabi Palace II you will find a large outside terraced area perfect for Birthdays, Parties and Weddings etc. They even cater for the younger ones and have a varied Children’s menu. There is also a takeaway service available.
You can call the restaurants on the following numbers and also make reservations via Facebook:Booking is highly recommended. Punjabi Palace II – La Marquesa Golf, Quesada - Tel: 966 714 963 Punjabi Palace III – CC Lomas de Cabo Roig - Tel: 865 754 972
ON November 24, at 10.00pm, witness an epic clash of rock legends at Sala MareaRock, Calle del Comer cio, 10, 03008 Alicante. ‘Rock Duo’ is not just a fes tival; it’s a musical ring where two iconic bands go head to head, and this time, it’s the ultimate duel: Bon Jovi versus Queen! In the red corner, hailing from New Jersey, we have ATTENTION rock enthusiasts! Get ready for an electrify ing experience on Sunday, November 26, as the renowned rock band As trosonic takes the stage at El Capitan Sport Centre in Ori huela.
PREPARE to be swept away on a threeday extravaganza at La Zenia Boulevard. On Friday, November 24 at midday, the vibrant notes of the Huapango Brass Band will fill the air, then, as the sun be gins to set at 6pm, Ballet Kebanna will take the stage. On Saturday, November 25, midday is the time to defy gravity with the jawdropping feats of Acrobatic Black a spectacle that will leave you in awe. As the day unfolds, enjoy a musical journey with a U2 Tribute Band taking the stage at 6pm. On Sunday, November 26, for the grand finale at 5pm, let the smooth and soulful sounds of Vilmar’s saxophone sere nade you into the evening. There will also be a Black Friday shopping extravaganza with members of the Loyalty Club in for a special treat. Swap your shopping receipts for black cards with prizes of up to €150, culminating in a total of €5,000 in prizes! These coveted black cards are yours for the taking, but only on the date of your receipt. Exchange can be made from 2pm to 8pm at the promotion stand.
Rock showdown! the incomparable Bon Jovi! And in the blue corner, rep resenting London, none other than the legendary Queen! Relive the magic of their most iconic songs as two of the finest tribute bands take the stage: ‘Bad Medicine’ (Bon Jovi) and ‘The Great Pre tenders’ (Queen).
This promises to be a night of electrifying performances and nostalgic hits that have defined the history of rock. To secure your spot at this musical showdown, reserve your tickets now at www.taquilla.com. Let the battle of the rock ti tans begin!
Astrosonic Rock From 2pm to 5pm, im merse yourself in the pulsat ing rhythms and soulstirring tunes that only Astrosonic can deliver.
La Bodega Large Selection of English Products UK Postal Service CHRISTMAS STOCK NOW IN • 2024 Calendars & Diaries • Greetings Cards & Gifts • UK Newspapers & Magazines • Printing Services inc Boarding Pass • UK Passport Renewal • Mobiles, Top Ups & Sim Cards Open 8am, 7 days a week • 966 789 198 • labodegaprint@hotmail.com
To secure your spot and ensure the best view of the performance, be sure to book a table by sending a message to (+34) 603 235 688. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy an afternoon out with friends and fellow rock en thusiasts in the vibrant atmo sphere of El Capitan. El Capitan Sport Centre is located at Calle Fragata, Pun ta Prima, Orihuela. For additional details or in quiries, reach out via email at elcapitan.sportcenter@gmail .com.
30 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
DENMARK Royal silence CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK of Denmark, married since 2004 to Australian Mary Donaldson, with whom he has four children, was seen in Madrid recently with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova. The royal household issued a statement maintaining that it “did not comment on rumours or insinuations” without referring to Casanova, who insisted the allegations were “malicious” and “false”.
euroweeklynews.com
EURO PRESS NORWAY
Photo credit: Arctic World Archive
Park life
African presence DENMARK has reversed plans to close its embassy in Tanzania after announcing in 2021 that the government intended to phase out the mutual development plan between both countries. Tanzania’s Foreign minister January Makamba revealed on November that the decision to remain was the outcome of “a very fruitful” meeting in Algiers with Danish officials last October.
SWEDEN
Independence and historic documents. Cold, dry and without natural light, the disasterproof Arctic World Archive was created to store physical and digital artifacts from all over the world for future generations.
NORWAY: Visitors to the Arctic World Archive.
Safe and sound A DISUSED mine 300 metres below ground on an island in the Svalbard archipelago has since 2017 housed the original Mexican flag, together with the 1821 Declaration of
GERMANY
AFTER 11 years of delays, political infighting and hostility from sheep farmers concerned about wolves, Oslo will have a national park in the Ostmarka area popular with skiers and hikers. The 53.9-square kilometre park, smaller than originally planned, would be “good for nature, good for people and good for public health,” Environment minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said.
FRANCE
NEWS
IRELAND Bank glitch BANK OF IRELAND customers complained on November 15 of problems with the online service, with the bank recognising that there had been issues when logging into accounts. The technical hitch was one of several so far the bank has suffered this year, including last August when the bank’s chief executive Myles O’Grady apologised for a “significant technology outage.”
Surf’s up MULLAGHMORE HEAD (County Sligo) on the Atlantic coast attracts surfers from Hawaii and Australia in search of some of the heaviest waves found anywhere in the world. “People spend time in Ireland to brave the elements and hopefully get these waves once or twice a winter,” said Conor Maguire, renowned for catching Ireland’s biggest wave in 2020.
PORTUGAL
Going nuclear
Drunk in charge
Pedal power
Home sweet home
THE Swedish government announced on November 16 plans to construct two new conventional nuclear reactors by 2035 to meet the growing demands of industry and transport for clean power, while meeting some of the cost. By 2045 the government intends to have built 10 new reactors, some of which are likely to be small modular reactors (SMRs).
GERMANY’S maritime police revealed that the woman who was steering a freight barge which rammed and destroyed a lock on the Rhine near Iffezheim on November 11 was "very intoxicated" at the time. She is now under investigation, police said, for endangering shipping and causing damage costing €1.5 million in repairs that could take a year to complete.
NEXT year’s Tour de France commences in Florence (Italy) on June 19 although for the first time ever it will end in Nice, not Paris, due to the 2024 Olympic Games held in the French capital. The organisers have now revealed that the 2025 race will set out from Lille in northern France as it did in 1960 as well as 1994, with the date to be announced on November 30.
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S future neighbours in Cascais are complaining about noise and disruption during construction of his mansion, which at $22 million (€20.6 million) will be one of Portugal’s most expensive properties. Due to be finished by June 2024, the player is not expected to occupy the four-storey luxury home until his Al Nassr contract ends in June 2025.
Ferry nice
Not for sale
Spike charge
Make a move
A SILENT electric ferry presented in Stockholm recently hovers one metre above the water and saves energy obtained by going airborne on foils, which give the speed and range needed for functioning on batteries. At 56 kilometres per hour it is faster than other passenger ferries as it leaves no wake, which exempts it from the usual 22 kilometre per hour speed limit.
OLAF SCHOLZ, Germany’s chancellor, called for further legal restrictions on sex work, adding that the sale of sex “was not acceptable” and should not be normalised. During a question-andanswer session in the German parliament, he maintained on November 15 that it was not right for men to purchase women. “It is something that has always morally angered me," he said.
FRENCH senator Joel Guerriau, aged 66, was charged on November 16 with spiking MP Sandrine Josso’s drink, intending to assault her while possessing and using substances classed as drugs, police said. Josso said that she began to feel unwell after accepting a drink on November 14 at the home of the senator, with whom she was not in an intimate relationship.
PORTUGAL’S government revealed that it plans to extend its Non-habitual Resident Scheme (RNH) providing tax advantages for foreign residents by a year. Insiders said this is clearly meant as an invitation to investors disenchanted with the re-election of Spain’s Pedro Sanchez who has already announced that the rich would now pay more tax than in the past.
FINLAND
BELGIUM
ITALY The real deal ITALY’S parliament voted in favour of banning the production, sale or importation of cultivated meat or animal feed, in a session preceded by rallies for and against the veto and scuffles between farmers and MPs. Infringing the law will bring a €60,000 fine, although to date only Singapore and the United States have approved lab-grown meat for human consumption.
Poverty grows CATHOLIC charity Caritas said in its annual report on poverty and social exclusion, published on November 17, that poverty was “deeply embedded in Italy”, with more than 5.6 million people living below the poverty line, compared with 357,000 in 2021. A further 14.3 million, 24.4 per cent of Italy’s population, were at risk from poverty and social exclusion, Caritas said.
THE NETHERLANDS
Stay-at-home dads
Drug restricted
A DUTCH trawler whose three crew members sent out a distress signal off the African coast on November 5 was located and towed to port by the Nigerian navy on November 17. The local authorities are in touch with the Dutch police but nothing is yet known about what happened or why it took 12 days to find the boat which had bought by a Congo church community.
FINLAND’S Family Reform recently gave the parents of newborns individual entitlements of 160 weekdays of leave, with the option of transferring up to 63 days to the other parent. By late September, fathers were taking more time off than in 2022 although official figures showed that most were generally transferring their leave allocation to the mother.
BELGIUM’S Federal Medication and Health Products Agency (FAMHP) ordered doctors and pharmacists to prescribe Ozempic solely for patients who have Type 2 diabetes, after announcing a ban that continues until June next year. Owing to growing demand there is now a shortage of the drug, which is increasingly used to treat obesity and assist weight loss.
Slight increase
Hands tied
Horse loose
AT present prisoners in Finland cannot be handcuffed during transport unless there is a risk of violence or escape, although police hope for a change in the law which would permit the use of cuffs or cable ties. Problems often arose when groups of up to 10 prisoners were driven from jail to appear in court, said Kari Tolvanen, an MP with a police background.
A LIEGE-BOUND 747 cargo jet had to turn round in mid-flight and return to New York after its pilot informed air traffic control that a horse had escaped from its stall in the hold, 30 minutes after take-off. The aircraft was then given permission to make a U-turn off the Boston coast, after first dumping 20 tons of fuel to ensure it could make a safe landing in New York.
Boat mystery
NETHERLANDS unemployment rose from 3.5 to 3.6 per cent in 2023’s third quarter although it still has one of the EU’s lowest rates. Most of the 16,000 people now jobless worked in healthcare, business and trade, the National Statistics office said, while the 18-25 age group was the most affected, with the previous quarter’s 8.2 per cent unemployed rising to 8.7 per cent.
NEWS
euroweeklynews.com
23 - 29 November 2023
Anna Ellis IN a tale that blends in trigue and remorse, a 30 yearold man has narrow ly avoided a severe sentence, landing 21 months of suspended prison time from a Ger man court. The twist? This former employee of the es teemed Deutsches Muse um in Munich orchestrat ed an audacious art heist, leaving the cultural institu tion and the art world in shock. The daring escapade in volved the theft of several artworks, with the perpe trator going so far as to re place one masterpiece, Franz von Stuck’s ‘The Tale of the Frog Prince’, with a cunningly crafted fake. The stolen painting was then surreptitiously sold at auction under false pre tences, with the man fab AMIDST the relentless march of inflation casting its shad ow over consumer goods, a surprising twist emerges in the world of beverages. The CEO of CocaCola Eu ropacific Partners (CCEP) France, François GayBellile, re cently made waves by an nouncing a bold move, seeking a 7 per cent price increase across a range of beloved prod ucts including Fanta, Sprite, and the iconic CocaCola itself. As negotiations unfold be tween distributors and the beverage giant, it’s clear that CocaCola is flexing its mus cles in this highstakes game. The pivotal question re mains: Will this potential
Image: Deutsches Museum in Munich / Facebook
Artful deception
ART HEIST: Deutsches Museum in Munich.
ricating a tale of familial inheritance to disguise the illicit origins. The ruse proved suc cessful, netting him a sub stantial sum of nearly €50,000. But the audacity didn’t stop there. The daring thief also negotiated the theft of two additional paintings by Eduard von Grützner and Franz von Defregger directly from the museum’s warehouse. The illgotten gains were used to fund a lavish
lifestyle, including the ac quisition of luxury watch es and even a RollsRoyce. Astonishingly, the auc tion house responsible for selling the pilfered paint ings claimed an inability to identify them as stolen property. In addition to the sus pended prison sentence, the remorseful former employee faces a hefty fi nancial consequence, be ing obligated to reimburse the museum over €60,600.
Fizz or fizzle price hike render CocaCola a coveted luxury item? The answer lies in the hands of distributors, whose margin decisions can swing the pricing pendulum any where from 10 per cent to a staggering 50 per cent. In this economic tussle, the beverage finds itself in a commanding position, mak ing it difficult for supermar kets to resist the allure of this everpopular soda, even amid the tumultuous infla tion crisis. According to François Gay
Bellile, CocaCola’s financial health appears robust, boast ing a commendable +12.5 per cent turnover. The brand has not only se cured its market share but has also made unexpected inroads into new territories, including the realm of alco holic beverages. In the face of inflation and unsettling news, ‘pleasure’ products, notably CocaCola, have emerged as resilient sur vivors of the crisis, attracting a wave of new, discerning consumers.
Ban on the bang IT has been made official that 16 Dutch munici palities will completely ban consumer fire works this New Year’s Eve, with an additional three who also plan to ban fireworks from 2024/25. The municipalities of Tilburg, Arnhem, Amersfoort, and Eindhoven are banning fire works in the entire municipality for the first time this year whilst Ede, Zwolle, and Zupthen plan to do so next year. However, most places with firework bans are organising central fire
works shows for all to watch and bring in the New Year. Of the 342 municipalities that have decided not to ban fireworks on December 31, many of them explained that local bans were too diffi cult to enforce. Others said they don’t need a ban because fireworks either don’t cause prob lems at all in the municipality or the problems are mainly caused by illegal fireworks that are already banned. Some stated their local resi dents were firmly against a ban.
EWN 31
FINANCE THE Avon cosmetics company announced that it would open shops in the UK for the first time in 137 years. The compa ny had to change its selling strategy, Avon’s chief execu tive Angela Cretu said, now that there are fewer stayat home wives and mothers, with most women working outside the home.
Going down FOR the first time in 18 months, Spain’s yearonyear food inflation dropped below 10 per cent in October to 9.5 per cent although olive oil rose by 74 per cent. Lower prices helped the Consumer Price In dex to remain at 3.5 per cent, unchanged from September’s figure, Spain’s National Statis tics Institute (INI) said.
Don’t do it PURCHASE scams are responsi ble for the majority of banking sector fraud cases, said online bank Monzo. “Unless you pick up the goods at the same time, don’t even think about it if a seller on Facebook Market place or a similar website in sists on a bank transfer, how ever plausible it sounds,” Monzo said.
Not so good BETWEEN April 1 and Septem ber 30, Vodafone España’s rev enue fell 1.8 per cent to €1.93 billion, owing to lower earn ings for serviceproviding which fell 2.8 per cent to €1.7 billion. Pretax profits for the company, which was recently acquired by Zegona, dropped 11.16 per cent to €394 million.
Cold comfort ICELAND FOODS paid an ‘un precedented’ £94 million (€107.6 million) increase in en ergy last year, as Russia’s inva sion of Ukraine affected prof its. As a result, the company’s adjusted earnings before inter est, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for the year end ing March fell by 17 per cent to £105.8 million (€121 million).
STAT OF WEEK
paid by Inditex founder Amancio Ortega’s investment company Pontegadea for the purchase of a 49 per cent stake in Repsol’s Spanish windfarms and solar power plants.
€490 million
UK inflation satisfaction Linda Hall THE UK’s annual inflation rate for October dropped from September’s 6.7 per cent to 4.6 per cent. Cheaper gas and elec tricity were responsible for the biggest fall in more than three decades, sur passing the 4.8 per cent figure that had been pre dicted by a poll of economists carried out for Reuters. The announcement of the October figures also prompted an immediate 1.1 per cent surge in the FTSE 100 stock index. Al though the encouraging inflation figures did not in dicate that prices fell in Oc
Photo credit: Rishi Sunak
Ding-dong gone
euroweeklynews.com • 23 - 29 November 2023
RISHI SUNAK: Prime Minister delivered on inflation pledge.
tober, it meant they rose more slowly than forecast, boosting hopes that the Bank of England could cut the interest rate next year. Core inflation, which ex cludes energy and food amongst other volatile el ements, also fell more
Linda Hall GERMANY’S government announced a €15 billion rescue package including €7.5 billion in state guarantees for wind farm manufacturer Siemens Energy. The company employs around 26,000 people inside the country and al though the ailing company has €110 bil lion in orders it needs help to sustain them. The move also affects Spain as Siemens Energy’s subsidiary, Siemens Gamesa, is one of the world’s leading wind turbine makers. Headquartered in Zamudia (Vizcaya), the company has nine factories that provide jobs for 4,600 people.
than analysts expected but still remained high at 5.7 per cent after slipping from 6.1 per cent, short of the 5.8 per cent predicted by the Bank of England and the City. Food price inflation is now at its lowest since
2021 following last month’s fall to 10.1 per cent in the annual increase rate. This was down from 12.2 per cent in Septem ber and last March’s high of 19.2 per cent, the high est annual rate in more than 45 years, the Office for National Statistics re vealed. “In January I made halv ing inflation this year my top priority,” Sunak said on November 15. “I did that because it is, without a doubt, the best way to ease the cost of liv ing and give families finan cial security. Today, we have delivered on that pledge.”
The subsidiary, which has large oper ations in Denmark as well as Spain, has had major problems with some of the
turbines it supplies, involving failures in the enormous blades that have led to high repair costs. Siemens Gamesa has also been ham pered by deals agreed in the past at prices that were subsequently affected by galloping inflation. Siemens Energy took over Gamesa in December last year after acquiring the remaining third of the company’s shares which it did not already control. Spain’s Industry, Commerce and Tourism ministry announced on November 14 that the government was also working on a possible series of guarantees for new international con tracts.
Pfizer loses its fizz
Of great interest
Down the drain
PFIZER intends to cut 500 jobs at its Sandwich (Kent) laboratories to reduce costs by £2.8 billion (€3.2 billion). As demand falls for its Covid drugs, the US pharmaceutical gi ant plans to cease its Pharmaceuti cal Sciences Small Molecule (PSSM) operations where re searchers turn experimental molecules into medicines for clini cal trials. Pfizer said the decision to halt PSSM work at Sandwich followed discouraging sales of Covid treat ments, with the company now ex pecting fullyear revenues of be tween $58 billion (€53.47 billion) and $61 billion (€57.7 billion). It previously predicted of revenues of between $67 billion (€63.26 bil lion) and $70 billion (€65.5 billion).
WITH interest rates in the UK at their highest in 15 years, people are increas ingly anxious to learn about potential changes. Figures released by analysts at L&C Mortgages revealed that Google searches asking, “When will interest rates change?” have now reached a 58,000 monthly average. “Ultimately, there is no way of know ing when interest rates will fall or change,” L&C Mortgages said. “Usually, rates change every six weeks. However, the Bank of England has kept the rate at 5.25 per cent for a second month. This is done to tackle re cent high inflation figures, a significant problem in the UK. “Rates could increase by a further 0.25 per cent or 0.50 per cent, potentially peaking at 5.75 per cent and then falling over the next five years as inflation eas es.”
ROCA lost almost €120 million following the February 2022 Ukraine invasion. Although Russia accounted for 7 per cent of Roca’s total revenues, with a 2021 turnover of €141 million and profits of €19.5 million, it was one of the first companies to leave, selling up to its four Russian sub sidiaries in June 2022 for €169.3 million. In late 2022 these were val ued at €154.1 million, bringing €12.5 million in capital gains al though this was swallowed up by the depreciation of the rou ble against the euro, resulting in losses of €84.3 million which, added to a further €35.5 mil lion in impairments, finally cost Roca €119.9 million.
Rescue for Siemens Photo credit: Siemens-Gamesa
BUSINESS EXTRA
34
SIEMENS GAMESA: Manufactures wind turbine blades.
Royal Mail fail COMMUNICATIONS watchdog Ofcom has fined Royal Mail for not achieving first and second class delivery targets over the last financial year. The UK’s postal service, now owned by International Distribu tion Services, must pay £5.6 mil lion (€6.4 million) for failing to meet goals. Royal Mail should complete 99.9 per cent of daily delivery routes on the required day, but last year delivered only 73.7 per cent of firstclass mail and 90.7 per cent of secondclass mail on time. Complaints of late and irregular deliveries continued to grow and Ofcom suggested that the service had not yet recovered from inter ruptions during the pandemic.
Shares rise TELEFONICA BRASIL accounts for 56 per cent of parent compa ny Telefonica’s capitalisation. Shares are now worth 50.6 reales (€9.45), up 32 per cent since the beginning of the year, compared with Telefonica’s 10 per cent. That gives the sub sidiary a total worth of 84 billion reales (approximately €16 bil lion). When added to Telefonica Deutschland’s €5 billion, this means that between them the two subsidiaries account for practically 80 per cent of Tele fonica’s capital. In contrast, Spain, the UK (Virgin Media 02) and Latin America’s Hispam contribute just 20 per cent.
Parents’ help HELPFUL over50s in the UK have handed £98 billion (€112.4 billion) to their chil dren over the last five years. A study carried out for the SunLife financial services company found that parents had spent £36.5 billion (€41.8 billion) on helping off spring to buy a property, while giving £2 billion (€2.3 billion towards paying basic household bills. Other contributions were for school fees or to buy a car, although in some cases parents said that they gave money to their children “be cause they could afford to.”
FINANCE
36 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
euroweeklynews.com
LONDON - FTSE 100
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CLOSING PRICES 20 NOVEMBER
COMPANY
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
NET VOL
COMPANY
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
3I Group
2.158,00
-12,00
-0,55%
129,77K
Abrdn
171,65
-0,55
-0,32%
573,35K
Admiral Group
2.621,0
+22,0
+0,85%
Anglo American
2.237,5
+3,5
+0,16%
Antofagasta
1.394,00
+15,00
+1,09%
159,48K
Ashtead Group
4.615,0
-629,0
-11,99%
Associated British Foods
2.346,0
-34,0
AstraZeneca
10.096,0
-164,0
NET VOL
InterContinental
6.122,0
+26,0
+0,43%
31,16K
Intermediate Capital
1.516,00
+8,00
+0,53%
289,20K
53,35K
Intertek
3.827,0
+18,0
+0,47%
32,86K
271,41K
ITV
61,74
-0,18
-0,29%
764,79K
J Sainsbury
266,90
+0,70
+0,26%
414,48K
1,21M
Johnson Matthey
1.518,0
-6,0
-0,39%
128,86K
-1,43%
189,19K
Land Securities
654,40
+1,20
+0,18%
143,23K
-1,60%
225,58K
Legal & General
230,80
+1,00
+0,44%
1,75M
43,17
-0,20
-0,46%
13,32M
8.584,0
+34,0
+0,40%
80,89K
1.14245
0.87615
Units per €
US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0926 Japan yen (JPY)........................................162.05 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9652 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4558 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.737
Auto Trader Group Plc
710,60
+3,80
+0,54%
265,96K
Lloyds Banking
Aviva
421,90
-0,40
-0,10%
774,06K
London Stock Exchange
B&M European Value Retail SA538,20
+0,80
+0,15%
86,88K
Melrose Industries
522,92
+1,00
+0,19%
475,66K
currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830
BAE Systems
1.064,00
+9,00
+0,85%
2,85M
Mondi
1.394,00
+3,00
+0,22%
189,07K
THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER
Barclays
142,44
-0,36
-0,25%
4,85M
National Grid
1.024,50
+8,50
+0,84%
937,53K
Barratt Developments
486,10
+2,10
+0,43%
267,20K
NatWest Group
207,90
+0,10
+0,05%
2,03M
7.740,0
+26,0
+0,34%
28,59K
+30,40
+5,42%
749,46K
Berkeley
4.537,0
+16,0
+0,35%
9,21K
Next
BHP Group Ltd
2.462,50
+20,50
+0,84%
81,08K
Ocado
591,75
BP
479,85
+2,15
+0,45%
4,09M
Persimmon
1.241,0
-2,0
-0,16%
72,75K
278,36K
Phoenix
491,20
+0,70
+0,14%
245,64K
Prudential
937,06
-8,00
-0,85%
360,77K
British American Tobacco 2.533,5
+12,0
+0,48%
British Land Company
368,17
+1,00
+0,27%
514,57K
BT Group
119,44
+0,55
+0,46%
1,63M
Bunzl Burberry Group Carnival
2.934,0 1.600,5 1.044,5
-11,0 +36,0 -5,5
-0,37% +2,30% -0,52%
55,22K 169,03K 58,42K
Centrica
151,90
+0,20
+0,13%
1,78M
Coca Cola HBC AG
2.108,0
-9,0
-0,42%
42,22K
Compass
2.003,00
-89,00
-4,25%
1,25M
CRH
4.802,0
-18,0
-0,37%
107,00K
Croda Intl
4.590,0
-8,0
-0,17%
55,48K
DCC
5.284,0
-64,0
-1,20%
18,35K
Diageo
2.830,5
+21,0
+0,75%
338,11K
DS Smith
288,33
+0,30
+0,10%
289,47K
EasyJet
434,90
-0,80
-0,18%
430,61K
Experian
2.951,0
+18,0
+0,61%
163,90K
Ferguson
13.225,0
-145,0
-1,08%
13,76K
Flutter Entertainment
12.845,0
+150,0
+1,18%
43,85K
Fresnillo
548,40
+4,00
+0,73%
88,84K
Glencore
462,73
-5,00
-1,07%
5,57M
GSK plc
1.408,48
-2,40
-0,17%
467,83K
Halma
2.097,0
+44,0
+2,14%
117,22K
Reckitt Benckiser
5.402,8
+6,0
+0,11%
134,54K
Relx
2.989,00
+5,00
+0,17%
391,45K
Rentokil
469,00
+5,30
+1,14%
330,65K
Rightmove
502,80
-0,40
-0,08%
347,24K
Rio Tinto PLC
5.460,0
+14,0
+0,26%
306,61K
Rolls-Royce Holdings
246,11
+2,10
+0,86%
3,50M
Sage
984,20
-0,20
-0,02%
237,23K
Samsung Electronics DRC 1.402,00
+16,00
+1,15%
2,16K
Schroders
404,4
-2,7
-0,66%
110,86K
Scottish Mortgage
718,60
+4,20
+0,59%
440,48K
Segro
827,15
+4,60
+0,56%
171,99K
Severn Trent
2.699,0
+2,0
+0,07%
36,97K
Shell
2.629,5
+21,0
+0,81%
881,12K
Smith & Nephew
1.023,50
-1,00
-0,10%
128,93K
Smiths Group
1.652,18
-0,50
-0,03%
29,62K
Spirax-Sarco Engineering 9.166,0
+226,0
+2,53%
22,23K
SSE
1.802,87
+7,50
+0,42%
203,19K
St. James’s Place
682,00
-5,40
-0,79%
223,16K
Standard Chartered
664,80
+4,80
+0,73%
912,89K
Taylor Wimpey
126,17
+0,50
+0,40%
1,50M
Tesco
276,30
+0,30
+0,11%
982,26K
Tui
514,50
+13,40
+2,68%
227,64K
Unilever
3.820,5
+4,5
+0,12%
500,07K
1.089,00
+5,00
+0,46%
138,62K
Hargreaves Lansdown
720,40
-5,40
-0,74%
173,97K
Hikma Pharma
1.762,00
+2,50
+0,14%
43,18K
HSBC
614,95
-0,30
-0,05%
3,60M
United Utilities
IAG
163,55
+0,85
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2,47M
Vodafone Group PLC
75,01
-0,04
-0,05%
5,84M
Imperial Brands
1.845,00
-7,00
-0,38%
200,23K
Whitbread
3.345,0
+3,0
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29,59K
Informa
752,00
+3,00
+0,40%
240,02K
WPP
708,20
-4,80
-0,67%
184,43K
DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 20 NOVEMBER
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
95,34 162,56 265,39 189,69 208,04 253,07 144,46 47,76 57,26 51,70 339,19 307,27 191,21 152,89 43,81 149,79 152,82 275,75 101,75 369,85 105,96 151,07 221,22 171,82 536,29 36,23 249,56 21,22 155,35 94,15
-0,37 +3,51 -3,61 -0,02 +1,44 +4,86 +2,69 -0,29 +0,11 +0,26 +2,52 +0,83 +0,50 -0,17 +0,46 -0,31 +1,37 -0,37 -0,24 -6,32 -1,65 -1,76 -0,23 +0,13 -3,53 +0,05 +0,99 +0,47 -0,69 -0,36
-0,39% 2,54M +2,21% 2,97M -1,34% 2,62M -0,01% 49,41M +0,70% 3,53M +1,96% 2,78M +1,90% 10,85M -0,59% 32,57M +0,19% 14,36M +0,51% 3,29M +0,75% 1,38M +0,27% 2,62M +0,26% 2,16M -0,11% 4,42M +1,06% 49,60M -0,21% 6,76M +0,90% 7,68M -0,13% 2,59M -0,24% 6,76M -1,68% 39,45M -1,53% 6,06M -1,15% 8,43M -0,10% 3,60M +0,08% 857,89K -0,65% 2,66M +0,14% 19,09M +0,40% 7,23M +2,27% 11,91M -0,44% 14,09M -0,38% 12,16M M - MILLION DOLLARS
NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 20 NOVEMBER
COMPANY Most Advanced The Gap, Inc. CRISPR Therapeutics AG Structure Therapeutics Inc. Globant S.A. Sigma Lithium Corporation Beam Therapeutics Inc. Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. Fastly, Inc. Tenet Healthcare Corporation Venture Corporation Limited Qifu Technology, Inc.
CHANGE NET / %
VOLUME
+30.58% +14.64% +12.14% +11.85% +11.56% +10.81% +10.67% +10.58% +9.63% +9.03% +8.91%
69.085M 6.546M 1.06M 1.244M 2.107M 2.617M 8.646M 3.445M 4.097M 22,500 1.314M
-11.81% -7.06% -6.74% -6.20% -5.91% -5.78% -4.81% -4.67% -4.58% -4.02% -3.99%
3.211M 1.699M 774,753 9.197M 3.316M 5.564M 5.254M 40,739 828,100 18.92M 30,331
Most Declined Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Haemonetics Corporation ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. VinFast Auto Ltd. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. Vodacom Group Limited Banco do Brasil S.A. Applied Materials, Inc. Prosus N.V.
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euroweeklynews.com
BUSINESS EXTRA Train gain THE value of Talgo shares shot up to €4.53 on November 16 after a Hun garian business group made a preliminary public offer to acquire all of the Spanish train manufactur er’s shares. The group, which Talgo declined to name, would pay €5 per share, a 28 per cent pre mium on the November 15 closing price.
On spec UK shoppers sent back more than £4.1 billion (€4.68 billion) of clothing bought online last year, said GlobalData, predict ing a 16.7 per cent in crease before 2027. Or dering several items and returning some after mak ing a choice has risen 46 per cent compared with 33 per cent in 2021, ac cording to returns logistics company ZigZag.
23 - 29 November 2023
More woes for Britishvolt Linda Hall RECHARGE INDUSTRIES, Britishvolt’s new owner, could face legal proceedings over an exemployee’s unpaid wages. According to the Financial Times (FT), the Australian com pany, which acquired British volt last January, was served with a statutory demand to pay the wages. If Recharge In dustries does not settle within three weeks, the former em ployee can take further legal action and launch bankruptcy proceedings against the com pany, the FT said.
Photo credit: British Volt
FINANCE
BRITISHVOLT: Taken over by Recharge Industries in February.
Making headway LOWCOST telecoms firm Digi out stripped its rivals during the first nine months of 2023. Turnover for Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone and MasMovil grew slowly or languished, while the Romaniahead quartered company reported a record €466 million. This was 30.5 per cent more than dur ing the same period last year and in line with the €166 million recorded in this
year’s third quarter, 29.9 per cent up on 2022. Uncomplicated cheap offers, no ‘small print’ and personalised attention for clients, a service that other opera tors generally outsource, are key to Di gi’s success, analysts said. Meanwhile, the company is waiting to learn if it will be chosen to acquire assets sold off within the framework of the OrangeMasmovil merger.
Staff members had not been paid for months, another employee said. Britishvolt, now headed by Australian businessman David Collard, was founded four years ago and planned a £3.8 billion (€4.35 billion) gigafacto ry in Blyth (Northumberland) to supply batteries for UKbuilt electric vehicles. The company could have counted on £100 million (€114.5 million) in conditional funding from the UK govern ment but went into adminis tration after running out of cash. Most of its 300 staff were made redundant. Recharge Industries bought Britishvolt for £8.6 (€9.8m) in February, making an initial payment of £6.1m (€6.98m). In August, Britishvolt’s ad ministrators EY announced the final payment was ‘unpaid and overdue’, with Recharge In dustries in default of the busi ness sale agreement. Scale Facilitation, the New Yorkbased parent company of Recharge Industries, denied defaulting on the deal.
EWN 37
Sweet treat USBASED confectionery com pany Mars is buying Hotel Chocolat in a £534 million (€609.5 million) agreement that will help the UK chocolati er expand internationally, both companies said. Mars, which paid 375p (€42.80) per share on November 16, 170 per cent more than the previous night’s 139p (€15.87) closing price, said the deal brought “a much loved brand into its portfolio.”
New era UNICAJA shareholders ratified a new board of directors and the appointment of Isidro Ru biales as new chief executive at an extraordinary general meeting in Malaga on November 14. Their approval completed the renovation of Unicaja’s board following the 2021 Liberbank merger and brought to an end former dis agreements on both sides that resulted in a wave of res ignations.
38 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
euroweeklynews.com
Being gaslighted LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT THIS week’s blurb has been partially drawn from the input provided by a member of my ever welcome band of faithful contributors to whom I shall be eternally grateful. It is for those of us consistently bamboozled by the pure guff put out by some of our main media outlets; those large numbers of reports that we know have almost no resem blance to actual events. Have no fear, you are not going crazy you are being ‘Gaslighted’! Gaslighting is a form of brainwashing, aimed at con trolling people by altering reality to a point where those targeted begin to doubt their own sanity. The term comes from a 1930s play, where the main char acter drives his wife insane by slowly dimming the gas powered lights. When she notices the lights are dimming, he not only denies it, but convinces her it is her imagination to a point where she questions her own sanity.
We are constantly being told by the media of situations which are at com plete odds with what we are seeing with our own eyes. We witness disruption and rioting and are told it is peaceful protesting, We see murderers running amok, chanting their beliefs while killing innocent people and are advised they are not terrorist related. We are in formed that integration and diversity is working, yet perceive whole areas being taken over by foreign cultures. We observe neighbourhoods of our cities being terrorised by ethnic teenage gangs and are advised that it is the fault of the police. You spend your life trying to treat all individuals as equals and ab hor racism, but are accused of being a privileged racist purely because of the colour of your skin. You know you are not and that the accusation in itself is racist, but when you try to defend your self, it is declared that your defence is proof of your racism. You are told you live in an environ ment of true freedom of speech, yet when you speak out you are accused of bigotry and discrimination. Worry not. You are not losing your minds. Crazy
people don’t question their sanity. These media perpetrators deal in lies and psychological coercion. What their ultimate aims are is utterly beyond my comprehension. What I do know how ever is that we have to believe the evi dence of our own eyes. Trust your own observations; believe what you perceive as the truth. You’re not crazy. You’re be ing Gaslighted. Good luck everyone! Many thanks to the readers who have written to express their concerns over the onslaught of laws and regulations regarding the idiot ic introduction of electric cars. Facts show, that although the local woke brigade will be preening over the reduc tion of carbon monoxide being pro duced by the UK , the actual production of many electric vehicle components, particularly the batteries, will cause oth er countries carbon emissions to rise (and profit) dramatically. I dunno, just what are this woke brigade actually up to? The gas lit mind truly does boggle. 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
Lion escapes By Kevin Fraser Park “HELP, a lion has escaped from the circus.” It sounded like a joke, one of those in bad taste that run on social media. But no, a lion had re ally escaped from the circus and was calmly strolling through the streets of Ladis poli near Rome. And for a whole day, he had the po lice, circus organisers, zoo guards, volunteers, the fire brigade, even a police heli copter involved in his recap ture. The mayor warned: “Don’t leave home. Please pay the utmost attention and avoid going out until further notice.” The es capee was reported around 3pm on Saturday Novem ber 11 by the Rony Roller Circus. Unsuccessful searches took place in the afternoon, before darkness fell. A heli copter, using infrared de vices, managed to locate the animal in a reed bed near the railway and
Photos: Facebook / Shutterstock
Lion strolled the streets.
around 8pm the lion was shot with a sedative from a rifle, but it seemed to not take effect and the animal once more fled. It was final ly tracked down at 10pm after seven hours on the loose. Meanwhile, controversy broke out. “The episode,” wrote the International Or ganisation for the Protec tion of Animals, “highlights the danger of circuses with animals from the point of view of public safety and above all the discomfort of the animals.” The organisa tion added, “We hope to see the introduction of a law to ban the use of ani mals in circus shows.”
NEWS
euroweeklynews.com
23 - 29 November 2023
Swede scammed A SWEDISH woman fell foul of a scam after she was fooled into believing she was having an online rela tionship with the Hollywood actor, Keanu Reeves. As a result, the Oskar shamn resident lost around SEK 200,000 (approx €17,500). Initially, she received sev eral friend requests from ‘Keanu’ on social media. The pair subsequently started chatting and the ‘actor’
agreed to travel to Oskar shamn to meet his intended victim. However, he informed the woman thought to be in her 60s that his bank ac count had been frozen so she agreed to fund his trip to Kalmar County and also paid for his Covid certificate. ‘Keanu'’ then got ‘kid napped’ when he went to the airport and asked the woman if she could pay the ransom to get him released.
Unwittingly, the woman transferred the aforemen tioned sum of money only to eventually realise that she had been duped. Police spokesperson Robert Loeffel said: “Our ad vice is to never accept friend requests on social media from people you don’t know, whether they are celebrities or not. They are extremely skilful and manip ulative. It is a great offence to the person affected.”
Immigrant tests A NEW proposal could result in new ar rivals and asylum seekers having to un dergo mandatory tests in Sweden. According to Johan Pehrson, the Inte gration Minister, tests about Swedish society and Swedish values will be nec essary in order to receive government grants and compensation. “This is not just an offer, it should be a requirement. It ends with an exam
and you must pass it,” he said. The minister explained that an inde pendent assessment will soon be car ried out to establish exactly how this new system should be designed. It is believed that issues including children’s rights, freedom of expres sion, the principles of the rule of law, and gender equality will be among those included.
EWN 39
40 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
euroweeklynews.com
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Benefits of Yoga and Pilates I N our fastpaced lives, finding a balance be tween physical and men tal wellbeing is crucial. Yoga and Pilates offer a holistic approach, pro
moting flexibility, strength, and tranquility. Yoga, rooted in ancient practices, focuses on mindful movements and breath control. It en
hances flexibility, tones muscles, and reduces stress. Pilates, a modern exer cise system, emphasises core strength and stabili ty. By targeting specific muscle groups, it im proves posture and over all body awareness. Both disciplines con tribute to stress reduc
tion, fostering mental clarity and emotional bal ance. They are adaptable for all fitness levels, making them accessible to every one. Incorporating Yoga and Pilates into your rou tine can lead to improved physical health, increased energy, and a more cen
tered, peaceful mind. Embrace the trans formative benefits of these practices and embark on a journey towards a healthier, b a l a n c e d lifestyle.
Promoting flexibility.
AS winter brings its chilly em brace, your beauty routine may need a seasonal adjust ment to combat the harsh ef fects of the cold. Here are top tips for indulging in beauty treatments that will keep your skin radiant and healthy throughout the winter months. 1. Hydration is Key: Combat winter dryness by staying hy drated from the inside out. In crease your water intake and incorporate moisturising
Winter beauty bliss beauty products to maintain supple skin. 2. Gentle Exfoliation: In clude a gentle exfoliation rou tine to slough off dry, dead skin cells. This helps your skin absorb moisturisers more ef fectively, leaving you with a luminous complexion. 3. Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise: Invest in a rich, hy
drating moisturiser to replen ish lost moisture. Pay extra at tention to areas prone to dry ness, such as elbows, knees, and hands. 4. Protective Skincare: Shield your skin from the ele ments with protective skin care. Use a broadspectrum sunscreen to guard against harmful UV rays, even on
cloudy days. 5. Hair Care TLC: Nourish your hair with deepcondi tioning treatments. Winter air can be harsh on your locks, so indulge in weekly treatments to maintain shine and prevent breakage. Embrace these winter beauty tips, and let your radi ance shine through the frost. Your skin will thank you for the extra care during the cold er months.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
euroweeklynews.com
Nutty beginnings REVITALISE your morn ing routine by swapping your usual eggcentric breakfast for a nutrient packed alternative nuts. While eggs are a breakfast staple, nuts bring a delightful crunch and a host of health benefits to the table. Why Nuts? Nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, are rich in hearthealthy fats, protein, and essential vitamins. They provide sustained energy throughout the morn ing, keeping you fuelled and focused. Nutrient Powerhouse: Unlike eggs, nuts are a great source of antioxi dants, aiding in cell re pair and immune func tion. They also contribute to better cholesterol levels and improved heart health.
The wholesome goodness of nuts.
Versatility in Variety: From a handful of mixed nuts to a nutty granola parfait, the options are endless. Create a satisfying breakfast bowl with yo ghurt, fruits, and a sprin kle of your favourite nuts for a tasty and ful
filling start to your day. Make a positive change to your morning routine by embracing the wholesome good ness of nuts, elevating your breakfast experi ence and promoting a balanced, nutritious lifestyle.
23 - 29 November 2023
EWN 41
42 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
Linda Hall A GERMAN ecoactivist from the Wild Carpathians Initia tive group had to be airlifted to hospital after he was bad ly mauled by a bear. He had travelled with another member of the group to the Carpathian Mountains in Poland to check on a lair which they were convinced had been abandoned owing to logging operations. Instead, the bear was still in residence and, once dis turbed, pursued the activists
France vote on 90-day rule law, which was subse quently voted through by the Senate. It must still go in front of the country’s lower house later this year for debate. The politician said: “The
Britons I have spoken to say that the current system is longwinded, difficult and full of pitfalls.” Berthet highlighted the growing number of proper ties that have become va Credit: KaiKemmann/Shutterstock.com
THE strict 90day rule that has affected British people who own second homes in Schengen Area countries could soon be relaxed in France. Since Brexit, stays by British passport holders have been restricted to 90 days in any 180day period. Anybody wishing to extend their stay must apply for a temporary longstay visa of up to six months. Visa processing centres have reportedly suffered a huge increase in waiting times due to the large num ber of applications made by British citizens. After receiving numerous complaints from Brits who own second homes in the Savoie region that she rep resents in the southern Au vergneRhôneAlpes, Mar tine Berthet, a French senator, decided to take ac tion. She tabled a motion re questing a change to the
euroweeklynews.com
A holiday home in Seignosse Océan, Les Landes, France.
The bear facts through the woods. One stumbled and was mauled after falling to the ground. Footage of the emerging bear was caught on a cam era set up to monitor the lair and shared online by Michał Gzowski from Poland’s Forestry Service, who de scribed the episode as ironic. “Pseudoecologists attack foresters, mountain rescue and policemen, now these
people are saving their lives,” he said later. Although a forester had been attacked by a bear in the same place last year, the forestry service had failed to prevent further deforestation. Marek Jozefiak, an envi ronmental policy officer from Greenpeace, agreed officials were doing too little to halt the destruction of the forest.
cant in popular tourist re gions of France. There is no guarantee that France’s National As sembly will vote in favour of the change, but: “This is at the very least an impor
tant first step,” the senator said. Speaking last week, Philippe Bas, a senator and departmental councillor of Manche, claimed that the UK’s decision to quit the UK
NEWS
had ‘punished’ second homeowners who maybe never even voted to leave in the first place. President Emmanuel Macron has already made it clear that his government will not support any change to the law. However, his party does not have a ma jority in the French parlia ment.
FEATURE
euroweeklynews.com
23 - 29 November 2023
EWN 43
44 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
euroweeklynews.com
FEATURE
Ask the Optician - Eyes on Diabetes WORLD DIABETES DAY took place on November 14 and this year’s theme is ‘Know your risk, Know your response’. Un derstanding diabetes and its side effects is the first step towards preventing it, manag ing it and reducing the risk of complications. According to the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), around one in three peo ple with diabetes develop some form of eye health complication, so we’ve asked Lisa James from Specsavers Ópticas in Guardamar to answer some of your ques tions on this important topic. How many people have diabetes? Unfortunately, diabetes is one of the fastest growing health conditions today fu elled by record levels of obesity, excessive sugar consumption and sedentary lifestyles. Spain has the second highest diabetes preva lence in Europe and over five million people are living with diabetes, with 30.3 per cent of people living with diabetes in Spain being un diagnosed and at risk of developing serious eye health complications and even sight loss. What are the complications of diabetes? People living with diabetes have an in creased risk of developing diabetes complica tions which can affect the heart, blood ves sels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, teeth and gums. How can diabetes effect eye sight?
Understanding diabetes.
Diabetes can affect the small blood vessels and capillaries of the body if it is not properly controlled. Diabetic changes can occur in the blood vessels at the back of the eye, causing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in working age adults, so it’s hugely important that dia betes is detected early and monitored cor rectly to minimise the risk of avoidable sight loss. What can we do to prevent damage to the eye from diabetes? In order to avoid problems with sight, it is important that blood sugar levels, blood pres sure and cholesterol levels are controlled. Not all diabetes causes sight loss, but it is impor tant to have regular screenings and eye tests so that any problems or changes can be mon itored.
Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store and request an appointment.
FEATURE
euroweeklynews.com
23 - 29 November 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 45
46 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
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NEWS
Downing Street lambasted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in attendance, held an event at 10 Downing Street to show case Northern Ireland, with photographs of the evening later shared on Instagram.
The message, posted to day, read: ‘Yesterday we cele brated the culture of North ern Ireland with a reception in Downing Street. Businesses from across Northern Ireland arrived to showcase some of the best produce the country has to offer’. However, the original post
mistakenly featured an emoticon of the Irish tricolour flag, a glaring mistake that had to be swiftly rectified once the error was pointed out. The public was quick off the mark to point out the error, ‘Wrong flag. How embarrass ing…’ wrote one, while anoth
er said, ‘Out of touch soon to be out of government’. Other comments included: ‘Literally the government of the country, not knowing the flag of the country. You could n’t make it up’. One mes saged something that must have crossed everyone’s minds, ‘The social media in Credit: 10downingstreet/Instagram.com
DOWNING STREET has re cently faced criticism for mis takenly using the Irish flag in a post about Northern Ireland. On Monday, November 21, the UK government, with
Reception for Northern Ireland at No 10.
tern needs firing’. Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, ex pressed his concerns over this incident. He believes this is yet another indication of West minster’s lack of understand ing towards Northern Ireland. Beattie went on to under score the disconnect, stating, ‘There are people out there who want to hand all of the devolved power we have back to Westminster, and here is what Westminster is doing they got rid of our Lev elling Up funding, they brought us the Northern Ire land Protocol, they brought us the Windsor Framework, and now they’re firing out things on Instagram where they are using the wrong flag’. ‘These people don’t under stand us, they don’t know us. We are better served with de volved government’. His com ments highlight a growing frustration and sense of mis representation within North ern Ireland.
Pioneer surgery THE Coimbra Hospital and University Centre (CHUC) in Portugal recently per formed its first spinal surgery using biportal en doscopy, successfully treat
ing a case of lumbar disc herniation. As the CHUC explained in a statement to Lusa: “This is a complex surgical proce dure that is performed
through incisions measuring less than one centimetre, using a highdefinition cam era and a working channel, enabling the extraction of extruded disc fragments or widening of the spinal canal.” Fernando Fonseca, the Portuguese facility’s direc tor of Orthopaedics Service highlighted that this thera peutic approach was previ ously prepared and trained for by a team to introduce this new technique. “Spine surgery has seen important developments in recent years, allowing it to be performed using mini mally invasive methods, as well as faster recovery, with the same safety standards,” Fonseca continued. New techniques, such as endoscopic surgery, also al low the patient to return home in less than 24 hours, usually on the day of surgery the specialist added.
FEATURE/NEWS
euroweeklynews.com
Denmark qualifies DENMARK sealed their spot in the UEFA Euro 2024 with a commanding performance against Slovenia, clinching a welldeserved victory to so lidify their place in the up coming tournament. From the kickoff, Den mark displayed an unwaver ing determination on their home turf. The attacking prowess was evident early on as Jonas Wind’s threaten ing header required Slove nia’s goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, to make a crucial save within
the opening minutes. The hosts maintained re lentless pressure, and their persistence paid off in the 26th minute. Victor Kris tiansen’s pinpoint cross found Joakim Maehle, who clinically finished to give Denmark a crucial lead. However, Slovenia swiftly re taliated, levelling the score with a stunning freekick from Erik Janza, momentari ly disrupting Denmark’s mo mentum. Unfazed by the setback,
IN a groundbreaking discovery near the coast of southwestern Norway in Seljesanden lies a stonelined tomb dating back 4,000 years, of fering a glimpse into the lives of the region’s earliest farmers. Unearthed by researchers from the University Museum of Bergen during a preconstruction excavation, this tomb spans 10 feet in length and five feet in width, featur ing two chambers. Within its ancient confines, archaeologists identified the remains of an elderly man, a tod dler, and a young woman. Additional bones suggest the possibility of two more individuals interred at an earlier period. Beyond human
Denmark emerged for the second half with renewed vigour. Their persistence bore fruit as Thomas De laney volleyed home a flicked corner, reinstating their lead and effectively se curing their passage to Euro 2024. As Denmark looks ahead to the tournament, their qualification serves as a tes tament to their footballing skills, reinforcing their status as a formidable contender in the upcoming championship.
Ancient tomb remains, the site revealed remnants of dwellings, discarded animal bones, shell beads, and a stone blade sickle potentially used for harvesting grain. This monumental discovery provides a win dow into ancient agricultural practices and prompts further exploration into the lifestyles and lineage of Norway’s early inhabitants. Such revelations pave the way for a deeper un derstanding of the region’s rich and diverse his tory.
23 - 29 November 2023
EWN 47
INTERVIEW
“Spain is a land of opportunity” AS part of our ongoing conversations with Europeans who have chosen to settle in Spain, it is the turn of Swedish national Niklas Söderström who moved to the Costa del Sol in 2014. UP until then, he had run a building company in Sweden, but was effectively head hunted by a real estate company based on the Golden Mile in Marbella. It took Niklas a full seven days to decide to accept the offer and having landed in Spain nine years ago, he literally hasn’t looked back. “I love it here as compared to Sweden not only is the weather and lifestyle so much better, it really has been for me, a land of opportunity,” he explained. Adding “Apart of course from family there is really very little that I miss about Sweden and I have made my life here and I am enjoying it.” Now very competent in Spanish, Niklas revealed his secret, first he found out the Spanish name for everything in his apartment and stuck post-it notes on each item so that he would remember the words. Next step (which wasn’t just to learn the language) was to find a Spanish girlfriend and his vocabulary expanded considerably. “Once I had some idea of what I was saying, I decided that I would have to have the guts to just go out, speak my version of
Niklas Söderström loves it here.
Spanish and not be afraid to make a fool of myself and it worked, as because I tried, people helped me to get better.” The only slight negative (which many people find) is bureaucracy but Niklas shrugged and said “you learn to live with it.” Now living in La Cala having moved from Marbella, he finds it quieter but more real and has made a number of friends, mainly English and Spanish as well as some Swedes and would recommend any compatriot considering moving here from Sweden to do so.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM
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50 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
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FEATURE
COMMUNITY
COMMENTS
AS France debates the possibility of granting second home owners who hold non-EU passports the right to a special visa allowing them to spend 180 days continuously in France, second home owners in Spain are taking heart from a report that the Spanish caretaker Minister of Tourism favours something similar. In an article on the Euro Weekly News website which has received 10s of thousands of views, the concept of what is being considered is explained and a condensed version also appeared in edition 2002 of the paper editions. https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/11/12/can-spain-changeVisit schengen-rules/ to view the full story and see below some of the many comments, which have been received.
“
Absolutely that or not charge us local taxes for the months we are not allowed to be there - can’t have it both ways!!! Toni Eastwood Obe
Allowing second home owners to spend six months at a time would be a benefit to all. People would be more likely to buy property to winter in if they could do so unrestricted. It’s not really a change in the amount of time they could spend here, just a movement of when. It would still be six months a year as it is now.
Stays over 90 days are outside the purview of the Schengen Agreement. It is up to each Schengen member state to decide whom to allow to stay for over 90 days on the basis of their national law. Nothing in the Schengen Agreement forbids France and Spain to allow British citizens to stay longer than 90 days. Spain could, for example, create a simplified procedure for British citizens to get a Spanish national visa which would allow them to stay for over 90 days in Spain. Jan Kowalski
Spain is in a right sad and sorry state. High unemployment, especially mega high youth unemployment of about 25 per cent and wages are notoriously low. Cobblers to them, they are causing their own problems, it’s hilarious.
Second home owners have invested in the country and even while they are not in their second home using resources, they continue to pay - council tax, imputed tax (on imputed income should you rent your home even if you don’t), standing charges on utilities which are not being consumed, service charges on any urbanisation or resort the second home might happen to be located on. lt is outrageous to lump second home owners in with tourists and l hope the Spanish government/EU sees sense soon!!
Joe Ace
Margaret Atkins
Well , that’s Brexit . You voted out , but still want to be in ?
Unfortunately many people in the UK wanted to exit the EU. They were fed misleading information about many aspects of this. I agree with the idea to change to 180 days but at the same time it smacks of that ‘special treatment’ that the UK seemed to be constantly pushing for when they were members of the EU. One hundred and eighty days, yes, after that don’t try for anything more is my view. The UK left and it has to get over many things that will change over time.
Andy Solomons
I suggest it may be illegal to be charged for services you are not legally allowed to use. Bryan Colling
Vera Nilsson
Ninety day rule is killing Brit tourism, people now going to other destinations as getting complicated here in Spain, I’ve been here 35 years in business, I couldn’t believe Brexit, the damage it’s done and doing, the vote was a disgrace as Brits were totally misinformed and now paying the price of freedom, a majority vote would have been more realistic for such an important decision. I would love to see a re-vote as out of interest all the tourists I’ve asked would definitely vote different. Spanish economic dependence is hugely affected by tourism, someone get their act together. Kevin Burns
Keith Lott
This is an ok idea for the retired … People who work don’t come anywhere near the 90 day rule … Who has 90 days holiday anyway ?? Liam
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
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23 - 29 November 2023
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Advertising Feature
One-stop shop for international TV & security systems MISSING the TV shows, sports, films, and soaps you know and love? It’s a fa miliar feeling for expats living abroad. But, with over 18 years of experience and based on the Costa Blanca, Sky En gineer Pete Molloy is here to make sure you have all the entertainment you need, setting you up with access to TV channels from any country you like! Whether you are a business needing multiscreen installations or you simply want to be able to catch up on your favourite shows, English TV in Spain of fers reliable installations as well as on going support for all of your needs. The experienced team specialise in repairing and upgrading community systems, installing all of the English, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Dutch and Nordic channels, including premium television. Say goodbye to loss of signal and grainy pictures for a fraction of the price of other providers. Need your Android system updated? IPTV the future of TV viewing. Access thousands of channels and keep upto
ENGLISH TV: Reliable installations.
date on the latest box sets, movies and sports with an easytouse system from the comfort of your home. Forget about costly monthly pay ments with their freetoair oneoff payment systems. Never miss your favourite TV shows again! Get a quote from English TV in Spain, offering the best prices for inter
national television. SECURE YOUR HOME FROM YOUR PHONE WHEREVER YOU ARE Ensuring our homes, possessions, pets and loved ones are safe can be time consuming. With Safe and Simple Alarms, Pete and the experienced team
offer you peace of mind wherever you are with no monthly costs and tailored exactly to your needs. Starting from just €249, Safe and Simple Alarm systems are designed to effortlessly safeguard you and your loved ones with roundtheclock secu rity and protection. Customise your systems by incorporating exterior and interior cameras that not only record but instantly notify upon the detection of intruders. With rapid message forwarding with in seconds of a breach, you will stay in formed and in control. Take your security up a notch with additional window and door sensors, bolstering the de fence of your property and possessions, as well as video doorbells and external 100decibel flashing siren for an extra layer of security. Based in Torrevieja, Pete and the team are your onestop shop for your television and security needs, offering reliable and costeffective solutions.
Call 606 297 825, or visit www.englishtvinspain.com www.safeandsimplealarms.com
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Harmful ENSURING your dog’s health and wellbeing involves not only providing proper nutrition but also being aware of foods that can be harmful. Some hu man foods, no matter how tempting, should never be fed to your pet. 1. Chocolate: Containing theobromine, chocolate can be toxic to dogs, leading to vomiting and diarrhoea. 2. Grapes and Raisins: These seemingly harmless snacks can cause kidney failure in dogs. 3. Onions and Garlic: Mem bers of the allium family, these can damage a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia and other health complications. 4. Xylitol: Found in sugar free gum and some peanut butter, xylitol can cause insulin release, resulting in liver failure. 5. Alcohol: Even small amounts can cause intoxica tion, leading to coordination is sues and respiratory failure. Exercise caution and stick to a balanced canine diet to en sure your pet’s safety.
A dog-sitter playmate when you’re away RECENTLY one of our dogsitters Robin moved in to care for Blair and Lean for five weeks in the owner’s home. The pets were re laxed and entertained in their own home, and all was well until the owners returned after their holiday. We help to match petsitters with the pet owners for free safe pet care in the pet’s own home, for free! If you’re planning a trip in 2024 register now to find petsitters in time. Earlier is better than later. Whether your trip is short or long, get organised ahead of time. All pets benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Join our pet and housesitting network, and the sitters come for free! Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take:
Meet Blair and Lean who love their HouseSit Match dog-
1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com 2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sit ters apply and you choose.
How does it work? HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our net work for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House sitters see your advert, they re spond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials 4.9 / 5 Excellent Pure Joy I have completed two housesits so far, so early days. Both sits have been well suited to me and my dog. Thoroughly enjoyable experi ences with beautiful homes and wellrounded animals. I’m looking for more! Lisa Stimpson, Petsitter from the UK How do you join? Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com
Need a pet or house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20% discount using coupon code 20EWN – Reader exclusive offer. To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com
Playtime with your cat.
Pawsitively essential ENGAGING in playtime with your feline friend goes beyond the joy of watching them pounce and bat at toys it’s a crucial aspect of their physical and mental wellbeing. 1. Physical Exercise: Reg ular play sessions provide essential physical activity, helping to keep your cat in optimal shape. Interactive toys and activities encour age movement, preventing obesity and promoting a healthy heart. 2. Mental Stimulation: Cats are natural hunters, and play mimics this in stinct, offering mental stim ulation. Puzzle toys and in teractive games engage their problemsolving skills, preventing boredom. 3. Bonding and Socialisa tion: Playtime fosters a strong bond between you and your cat. It’s a shared experience that builds trust and deepens the connec tion, enhancing the overall quality of your relationship. 4. Stress Relief: Play serves as an excellent stress reliever for cats. It allows them to release pentup energy and reduces anxi ety.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS POLICE/FIRE/AMBULANCE: 112 24-HOUR PHARMACY FARMACIA BERDAGUER MARBELLA: 952 773 187 CENTRAL FARMACIA LOS BOLICHES: 952 474 238 FARMACIA CAFFARENA MALAGA: 952 212 858 24-HOUR VETS CLINICA VETSUR FUENGIROLA: 952 660 596 CLINICA VETERINARIA MALAGA: 952 358 701
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CLASSIFIEDS ARCHITECT
BUILDING SERVICES J & J PAINTERS. Inside outside - clean - fast low cost. Torrevieja Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. Tel: 650 363 159 (1296232)
BUY & SELL PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)
CARS FOR SALE
Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www. aa-costablanca.org (93323) CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campello@hotmail.com (95475) CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462) CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.givinglight.com.(10006) FREEMASONRY. Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca? There are various Lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact sec@glpva lencia.com Tel 600 841 064 (95477)
CARE HOME PRIVATE CARE HOME Full Board and Care. Also, Dementia care. British Owned near Alicante. Luxurious Villa. €1,200 per month. Call 747 438 225 (304618)
CHARITY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life - damaging everything that is important to you. Englishspeaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa
HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 ( Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegabaja. com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvegabaja. com. W e a l s o h a v e a 24-hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and non-members on 966 723 733 (95456)
CHARITY
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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Beniajan 16, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday morning Services at 11.00am. All nationalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icatorre vieja.org (95476) LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English-speaking church. For more information, including details of our services, see our website www.lasiestaevangeli calchurch.org (10005) PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459) PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pi larchurch.org Reg No: 2009SG/A (95463) ROYAL Air Force Association Costa Blanca Registered Members Group: The RAFA Costa Blanca RMG replaces the RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the Royal Air Force Association and the RMG can be made via the RAFA website rafa.org. uk. Tel:0044 800 018 2361. (238593) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Why not make this year the year you volunteer? See how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvisits@ gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need
23 - 29 November 2023 • euroweeklynews.com help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, http://branches. britishlegion.org.uk/branch es/orihuela-costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk. (95457)
1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458)
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granala cant.secretary@rbl.commu nity
MOVERS AND SHAKERS We are a non-profit organisation that supports people and their families with neurological diseases such as; HUNTINGTON’S, ATAXIA, MOTOR NEURONE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS and PARKINSON’ S. Our MOVERS AND SHAKERS CLUB held every Friday @ 1pm – 3pm, is a chance for members to meet up socially, for a drink and a chat on a full range of topics and to exchange ideas and information. The club is held at O’Briens Bar in El Raso, Guardamar del Segura (except July and August). For more details, contact Marion Smith on 711 008 250, or email: marion.smith@amscb.org. es, or you can find us on Facebook : fb@movers and shakers www.amscb.org. es (295976)
ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details contact Hon Sec P S Wilkins Tel: 966 194 158 email: inkinspain@ yahoo.co.uk (10004) ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION For information please contact Chairman Anthony Jenkins +34 693 866 709, Vice Chairman Dusty Miller +34 711 006 670, Secretary Mike Cockman +34 670 224 822, Treasurer Carl Louden +34 678 518 202, email rnato rrevieja@aol.com (95455) STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and support stroke survivors and their carers, with rehabilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 653 588 475 English and 620 907 474 Spanish or email strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com, website: torre viejastrokesupport.org. We are always looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support. (95473) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461) THE BAKER Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo,
THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807) THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar meets at Hamilton’s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, B lasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Sevrice at 11.30am. For further information: www.spiritual i s t c e n t r e - b e n i j o fa r.c o m . Telephone 711 060 171. Email martindroute66 @hotmail.com. Fiscal G54713789
ELECTRICIAN MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (294038)
FOR SALE / WANTED WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)
GOLD WANTED
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INSURANCE FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TO) OR VISIT www.sosinsurancein spain.com or email tracey@sosinsurancein spain.com (304148) BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@benefi cialinsuranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialinsuran ceinspain.com for online quote. (304147) STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com
MASSAGE FRENCH, ELÉGANTE, slim, Sophie, 3 languages spoken. Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (302439) EXPERIENCE the best with a 1hr unique massage with Veronica. Shaving or permanent hair removal available. For appointments call 679 292 678 (303170) ATTRACTIVE, Girlfriend, Professional Masseuse relaxing and therapeutic Masseuse. Tel: 693 357 526 (303833) CLASSIC SPANISH LADY, Playa Flamenca area, private premises, all massage services from 50€. Ana 657 603 495 (303873)
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TORREVIEJA centre 5 Spanish and Colombian girlfriends, very affectionate and dominant masseuses 24 hours a day Call outs . 613668548 (302991)
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MISCELLANEOUS GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)
MUSIC FOR SALE 2 brand new Grundig Hi-Fi speakers 50watt, 26 x 18cm. €25. 699 321 591 (304542)
TORREVIEJA Miriam. Mature, gives relaxing body massage. Speaks English. Call 604 382 799 (304672) LOVELY slim lady, 46, offering a pleasant massage. Mil Palmeras. In your home or hotel. Contact leila puss@yahoo.co.uk for more details (303843)
23 - 29 November 2023
MUSIC TUITION PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (302201) WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)
MOTORHOMES MOTORHOME / Campervan wanted. Left or right hand drive. Cash waiting for right van. Tlf 650 722 905
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PERGOLAS TAILOR-MADE in durable canvas, pergola covers, sails, umbrella, spa and CAR COVERS. 10% off Cushions. Mazarron to Costa Blanca. RETIRING SOON DON’ T MISS OUT Google: KrugerCanopies.com WhatsApp:
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PETS BEAUTIFUL & Healthy BICHON FRISE puppy available from responsible breeder. Contact 653 757 768 (304679)
PET CHARITY EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorsecare.net www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706) GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, de-flead. volunteers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709) P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you
SITUATIONS VACANT
could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746. For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com (95708) SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting rehoming. Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at w w w . s p a m a - s a f o r. blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)
PLUMBERS MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (294038)
POOL MAINTENANCE POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltech spain.com (293105)
If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161
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Advertising Feature
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James is behind the business.
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JULY marked a milestone for the European car mar ket with a consistent 17 per cent yearonyear growth, making it the first year of consistent monthly growth since the pandem ic. The market rebounded impressively, registering 1,018,403 new passenger cars, a significant increase from 873,825 units in July 2022. The yeartodate volume surged from 6,460,730 units in 2022 to 7,581,537 in 2023. The Volkswagen Group solidified its dominance, widening the gap with Stellantis while Chinese car brands doubled their market share since July 2022. Despite a 62 per cent in crease in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, demand for gasoline cars rose by 15 per cent, consti tuting 58 per cent of total cars sold in July with con
Credit: Shutterstock.com
Gasoline grows
GASOLINE CARS: Demand grew throughout July.
sumers expressing reluc tance to fully embrace new energy vehicles due to concerns and price dif ferences. The average re tail price of electric cars in Germany was 39 per cent higher than their gasoline counterparts. Amid the industry’s shift to electric, Volkswagen Group saw growth driven by internal combustion en gine and plugin hybrid models, outpacing its com petitors. The Volkswagen ID.4 emerged as the bestselling
BEV in July, contributing to VW’s highest monthly mar ket share in two years at 27.49 per cent. The data suggests that major manufacturers like VW continue to rely on traditional combustion en gine models for substantial growth despite the em phasis on electric vehicles. As the European car in dustry prioritises the elec tric transition, addressing consumer concerns and ensuring fairer prices be comes crucial for broader BEV adoption.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6 - an automotive tour de force! ROAD TEST by Mark Slack IN a motoring world where all cars arguably look the same there are some stand out companies that manage to do things differently. Of course the styling of the cars they produce can po larise opinion, effectively becoming marmite cars. Some people love them, some people hate them. Hyundai has a good record of standout styling but also in affordable form, so if you want something different you don’t have to be rich and go bespoke. The Ioniq 6 is a good case in point. It has extraordinarily sleek lines with swoops and curves on every panel, and a very swept rear roof line. Where styling seems to rule you often find the inte rior space is somewhat compromised. Well, the Ioniq 6 is surprisingly un compromised internally with limousine levels of
legroom, especially in the rear, and the swept roof line doesn’t really hinder entry and exit for rear seat occupants. Prices for this most stylish of EVs start at a not unrea sonable, by today’s stan d a r d s , £47,040, which al though not inexpensive is good value for this class of car and the equipment that is on offer as standard. The leadin Premium model includes matrix LED headlamps, heated front
IONIQ 6: A comfortable, very refined and relaxed drive.
and rear seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging, privacy glass, rain
sensor, power boot lid, key less entry and start, pow ered heated and folding
Facts at a Glance • Model: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Premium RWD • Price: £47,040 (Range £47,040 - 54,980) • Engine: 77.4 kwh battery developing 228 PS • Gears: Single speed automatic • Performance:0-100kmh (62mph) 7.4 seconds. Maximum Speed 180kmh (115mph) • Range: 338 miles WLTP • Emissions: 0g/km-WLTP • Charging time: 11kw 10-100% 7hrs 10m/50kw 10-80% 73m/350kw 10-80% 18m
door mirrors and smart cruise control. The extensive list includes technology such as a pump as standard that transfers heat from the outside air to the battery, which stores energy and helps power the car. The 77.4 kwh battery on all Ioniq 6 models allows a 338 mile range, or 322 in the dual motor allwheel drive model. This translates into the benchmark 62 mph
being passed in 7.4 seconds or just 5.1 seconds in the dual motor version. In the cabin the touchscreen technology is a bit of a f a f f (aren’t they all) and the safety kit, that gets top marks from Euro NCAP, is a pain because of the incessant bings, bongs and dongs for everything in cre ation. All can be switched off but each time you start the car you have to switch them off again. To be fair this is the same on any new car, not just Hyundai. On the road the Ioniq 6 is a comfortable, very refined and relaxed drive, an excel lent long distance cruiser with performance to match. Despite minor grumbles with touchscreen tech this is an automotive tour de force.
euroweeklynews.com
23 - 29 November 2023
BROKEN DOWN: Apart from emergency triangles, reflective vests should also be worn.
Reflective vest law A REFLECTIVE vest is an essential item that must always be carried in a vehicle when driving on the Spanish road network. However, confusion could arise about the exact number of these reflective vests that must be carried in a vehicle as to whether they relate to the total number of passen gers or not. Article 11/8 of the General Driv ing Regulations specifies that: ‘Drivers of pas senger cars must wear a highvisibility reflective waistcoat, certified in accordance with Royal Decree 1407/1992, of November 20, which is one of the compulsory items of equipment required to be worn when they leave the vehicle and occupy the road or the hard shoulder of interurban roads’.
Therefore, based on the Regulation and the clarifications made by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) it appears to only be necessary for the driver to wear a vest. In the case of passengers, it is advisable for them to also wear one if extra vests are available inside the vehicle. The use of a vest is specified in a situation that results from a breakdown in which the driver has to get out of their vehicle on an in terurban road, which may be a motorway or a conventional road. In such cases, it is mandatory to indicate the position of the car while stopped on the shoulder with the V16 emergency light or with traditional emergency triangles.
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Electric car aid THE Spanish government has extended the aid pro gramme for the purchase of an electric car for an other seven months. As announced on Tues day, November 14, the scheme which was sched uled to expire on Decem ber 31 will now run until July 31, 2024. This extension was ap proved at the request of the Ministry of Ecological Transition in what was foreseeably the last Coun cil of Ministers of the Government in office be fore the new investiture of Pedro Sanchez. The MOVES III Pro gramme was set up with resources from the EU’s Next Generation recovery fund after being allocated €1.2 billion, of which €290 million are still avail able. It was put in place with the objective of offering motorists an incentive to purchase electric vehicles
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Credit: Kzenon/Shutterstock.com
MOTORING
ELECTRIC CARS: Target hoped to be reached by 2030.
and charging points. So far, the Ministry has of fered a positive assess ment of the plan’s accep tance, which has allegedly exceeded all expecta tions. It reported that the Na tional Recovery and Re silience Plan had estab lished the objective of reaching 238,000 re quests for help in pur chasing electric vehicles and charging points in 2023. In one of its milestones
related to the electric ve hicle, it said: ‘the objec tive has been met’ be cause ‘there are more than 250,000 registered applications’. With the money that is still available in the MOVES III Programme, the government hopes to replace the current fleet of combustion engine ve hicles and reach its planned target of 5.5 mil lion electric cars circulat ing on the roads of Spain by 2030.
64 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023
Djokovic’s seventh ATP title SERBIAN tennis superstar Novak Djokovic claimed a sev enth ATP Finals title in Turin on Sunday, November 19. In a dominant display of nearperfect tennis, he took one hour and 44 minutes to beat Italy’s Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 63 63. The 22yearold Worldranked No 7 was simply no match for the Serb, who is 14 years his senior. Sinner was the first Italian tennis player to ever reach the ATP Finals and had defeated Sunday’s opponent in their group match earlier in the week. Speaking with Amazon Prime after his win, the champ described this year as: “One of the best seasons I’ve had in my life, no doubt. It’s very special. To crown it against a hometown hero in Jannik this week is phe nomenal. Tactically I played differently today than in the group stage against Jannik. Overall, a phenomenal week.” As a result of Sunday’s victory, he broke his deadlock with Switzerland’s nowretired Roger Federer, who had won the title on six occasions previously. Next up for him is the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 2023 Davis Cup Final. The tournament is being played at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga from Tuesday November 21 until Sunday, Thursday 26. Serbia face England in their first match today, Thurs day November 23, with the winners advancing to play the victors of the match between Italy and the Nether lands. That could see Djokovic meeting Sinner again.
euroweeklynews.com REAL MADRID golden boy, Jude Bellingham is literally that after he secured the pres tigious 2023 ‘Golden Boy Award’. Jude Bellingham, the 20 yearold English football sen sation, has been honoured with the 2023 Golden Boy award. This prestigious recog nition, granted by the Italian sports journal Tuttosport, cele brates the most exceptional young talent in European foot ball under the age of 21. The Italian magazine en thused: “When an interna tional jury made up of 50 au thoritative journalists from the most prestigious European newspapers awards a 20 yearold 485 points out of a maximum of 500, you just have to take your hat off.” The accolade recognises Bellingham’s outstanding con tributions to England, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid. Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, acclaimed Belling ham’s influence, and stated that he was, “the player who’s making the difference.” Tuttosport expanded on Bellingham’s remarkable achievement. The magazine explained that in 2017, when
NEWS
Madrid’s Golden Boy Credit: charnsitr/Shutterstock.com
REAL MADRID: Celebrating exceptional young talent.
Mbappe was declared Golden Boy, he too grabbed 97 per cent of the votes, the identical percentage obtained by Bellingham. At the time there were only 30 jurors, not the 50 that they have today. For this reason, they said the English midfield er is the ‘king of kings’ of the Golden Boy trophy. His remarkable form, high lighted by scoring 13 goals in
his first 13 games for Los Blan cos has elevated him above his peers, including Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde. The Golden Boy title signi fies a bright future in football for Bellingham. It aligns him with past winners like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi, indicating his po tential to reach similar heights. The Golden Boy award will be
presented at a gala in Turin on December 4. His recent Kopa Trophy vic tory at the Ballon d’Or awards as the best under21 player re inforces his emerging status in world football. Despite facing challenges, including a shoulder injury that caused him to miss Madrid’s 51 triumph over Va lencia and withdrawal from the England squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers, Bellingham’s persistence and talent shine. His ability to overcome these setbacks exemplifies the re solve and dedication charac teristic of elite athletes. Bellingham’s achievements at such a young age are not just personal triumphs, but al so a source of inspiration. His journey, marked by resilience and exceptional skill, sets a benchmark for aspiring foot ballers worldwide. His Golden Boy award not only highlights his current prowess but also points to wards a promising and im pactful career in the sport.
WITH preparation for the Las Vegas Grand Prix underway, Carlos Sainz’s first practice ses sion ended up going down the drain. In a significant setback, the first practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was aban doned. The reason behind the incident has meant a consider able amount of embarrass ment for Formula One man agement. The disruption occurred un der the dazzling lights of the Las Vegas strip. Spanish For mula One driver, Carlos Sainz encountered a mechanical fail ure in his Ferrari, causing the session’s suspension with just eight minutes having elapsed. Sainz’s Ferrari came to a halt due to an unforeseen issue.
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Incident halts F1 practice France run riot
MAJOR SETBACK: Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
After a wait of 11 minutes, it was declared that the session wouldn’t continue. The cause of the stoppage was later identified as a dislodged man hole cover. Sainz was clearly seen being jolted as the cover struck his vehicle with speeds approach ing 200mph on the Las Vegas Boulevard. In what many see as an un
duly harsh sanction, a news source reported that Sainz was subsequently given a 10 place grid penalty by F1 stew ards following the incident. Ferrari’s mechanics replaced the chassis and the engine, something that according to the letter of the law is not al lowed in such circumstances. The incident had a ripple ef fect, with, French driver, Este
ban Ocon colliding into the scattered debris. The collision which took place amidst the iconic Caesars Palace, Bellagio, and Venetian hotels, and re sulted in considerable damage to his Alpine car. Ferrari re ported ‘extensive’ damage to Sainz’s car, and Alpine an nounced the need for a new chassis for Ocon. Frederic Masseur, Ferrari’s team principal, expressed his dismay, stating, “He (Sainz) said ‘I hit something on track’, and he didn’t know what it was. It is just unacceptable for F1.” Meanwhile, an FIA spokesperson revealed, “Fol lowing an inspection, a con crete frame around a manhole cover has failed. We now need to check all of the other manhole covers which will take some time.” The incident underscored the unpredictable nature of street circuits, especially in a highstakes environment like Formula One. Sainz is currently lying sixth in the overall drivers championship.
FRANCE racked up their biggestever win on Satur day, November 18 after they thrashed Gibraltar 140 in their Group B Euro 2024 qualifying match at the Al lianz Riviera Stadium in Nice. The score also eclipsed the previous highest score recorded in the European Championships set in 2006 when Germany destroyed San Marino 130. A cross from Jonathan Clauss was put into his own net by Gibraltar defender Ethan Santos after only three minutes. The lead was dou bled by Marcus Thuram one minute later. PSG’s Warren ZaireEmery, making his debut aged 17 years, eight months and 11 days, became the youngest player to represent his coun try since 1914. He crowned his historical moment by bag ging the third goal of the match. Things went from back to worse for Santos when he was shown a red card in the
18th minute. Kylian Mbappe then got his first of the evening as he tucked a penal ty home in the 30th minute. Clauss hit a fourth for the French four minutes later, with Kingsley Coman and Youssouf Fofana both on tar get to send the hosts in 70 ahead at the break. A goal from Adrien Rabiot started the second wave af ter 63 minutes. Coman notched his second of the match before Ousmane Dembele equalled France’s previous biggest ever win of 100 against Azerbaijan in 1995. Mbappe broke that record by rounding off his hat trick. Spotting goalkeeper Dayle Coleing off his line, the French superstar proceeded to score a stunner from all of 40 yards. Olivier Giroud scored twice in the dying minutes, making it 140, with the French rack ing up a massive 38 shots on goal compared to none by Gibraltar.