• Issue No. 2005 • 7 - 13 December 2023
ILMAINEN
GRATIS
GRATIS
GRATIS
VRIJ
FREI
GRATUITO
G GRATIS
LIVRE E
F FREE
GRATIS S
G GRATUIT
VOLUNTEERS THANKED Employment joy
El Millón winner
Credit: loteriasyapuestas.es
THERE is almost as much excitement in the outlet that sold a winning lot tery ticket in Spain as there is from the lucky owner and also the Spanish Tax Authority. We all know that the Spanish love lotteries and although a lot of money is being targeted towards El Gordo the Christmas lottery, there are still plenty of others with much larger prizes and Euro Millions contin ues to be drawn every Tuesday and Friday. Participants in Mallor ca seem to be quite lucky and after the €26 million (less the tax man’s 20 per cent) win in Lloset last October, one lucky player won €1 million in the Friday De cember 1 draw with a ticket purchased in Can Pastilla, Palma. This is one prize only in El Millón which is basi cally a free raffle with one potential winner if they have the correct lottery ticket number and this time it was Mal lorca where that num ber was held.
The establishment that sold the winning ticket.
FREE
Credit: Consell de Mallorca
Mallorca
SPECIAL AWARD: The handing over of the Siurells.
IN anticipation of Volunteers Day on Tuesday December 5, members of the Consell de Mallorca met with repre sentatives of 13 different Mallorcan charities and asso ciations on Saturday Decem ber 2 to recognise the work that these tireless volunteers do with the people of Mal lorca. Some of the Associations set up special stalls where they were available to ex plain the work that they un dertake and to perhaps at tract new supporters. This day was enlivened by music from the singersong writer Amulet as well as the Rella group followed by a chocolate party put on for all of those taking part on the day. At the finish of the event each organisation was pre sented with a special award, a typical Mallorcan Siurell, a clay whistling figure in recog
nition of the hard work that each organisation under takes to make the lives of those in vulnerable situa tions. During the event, the pres ident of the Council, Llorenç Galmés, publicly thanked all of the organisations for their work and encouraged them
to continue with the altruis tic work they carry out. This thought was echoed by Antoni Fuster from the Council of the Presidency, Antoni Fuster, who added that it is the “people behind these solidarity projects who help society by contributing their time and skills.”
ALTHOUGH the November figure for the number of people employed in the Balearic Islands is less than in October, it is still the best figure in the last 21 years. According to data provided by the Employment Service of the Balearic Islands (SOIB), the autonomous community has registered an increase of 15,587 people affiliated with Social Security in the month of November. This total of 492,981 people, is 3.3 per cent more than November last year (compared to 2.6 per cent nationally) and is the best result for the month of November since 2002. Any drop in November was to be expected according to the government as November was the last month of the extend ed holiday period, but it is hoped that as more tourists come to appreciate holidays which don’t just rely on the sun, the 2024 November figures will be even better. Mallorca has led the way, both in the number of people employed as well as the largest drop in November when com pared to Menorca and Ibiza and unemployment also contin ues its downwards spiral overall. As a matter of interest, the number of selfemployed peo ple is around 20 per cent of those in work and the number of selfemployed people also continues to increase month on month.
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Paul Edwards THE Mallorca Classic Car Club would like to invite members to a preChristmas get togeth er at Restaurant Bruno at Port Calanova, Avinguda de Joan Miró, on Sunday De cember 10 from 11.30am to 2pm. This is situated on the ground floor at Port Calano va, there is parking in the port on the upper level, you will take a ticket on entering and need to pay on leaving. The Christmas event is an
Classic Car Club
informal festive gathering when complimentary tapas and two drinks will be provid ed by the club as well as musi cal entertainment with Izzy. For those that would like to do a drive before the get together then there will be a meeting at 9.45am to leave at 10am from Marineland car park in Portals to drive about 40km into the moun tains and then down to the venue for the Christmas get
together. As in past years they will be asking members to give sup port to the Allen Graham Charity 4 Kidz by bringing toys although older children prefer vouchers to cash will be ap preciated. Please register for this event via the club website and entry is free to members and their copilot and if you are a nonmember then there is a €10 charge per person.
Xmas at Fresopolis
John Smith FRESOPOLIS in Llucmajor is a family farm which not only offers a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables for sale, but is open for family and adult visits. With Christmas fast approaching there are a whole range of options which include the ani mal farm which is home to more than 200 farm animals. Here you can enjoy being close to grunting potbellied pigs, funny goats and fluffy sheep, sweet lambs, peaceful donkeys, proud peafowls, rabbits and guinea pigs, clucking chickens and tame ponies. Some of them were born at the farm whilst
others have found a new home at Fresopolis thanks to their farm animal rescue programme. They all have one thing in common though as they get along well with visitors and enjoy being admired and fed by guests. Normally only open to the public at week ends without prior arrangement, they’ve creat ed a series of programmes which allow guests the possibility of enjoying different experiences in one day and to design their visit individually. There is even a barbecue and occasional wine tasting option for adults and a beautiful wild flower and herb garden to explore. Find out more by visiting https://www.fre sopolismallorca.com/.
LOCAL NEWS
Craft Awards
MALLORCA’S renowned Artesania de Mallorca Awards are back and grander than ever for their 10th edition. The Council of Mallorca has announced that this year’s awards come with a total prize pool of €35,000 distributed across seven categories. Highlighting the com mitment to sustainabili ty, the Grand Artesania de Mallorca Award will offer a generous €7,000 to the artisan showcas ing a work of exception al quality and environ mental consciousness. As Pere Ferrer, the Is land Director of Artesa nia, stated, this award aims to ‘recognise the product that, beyond its manufacture, reflects a deep environmental awareness throughout the production chain.’ Notable categories in
Credit: conselldemallorca.cat
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Winners of the Artensania de Mallorca 2022 Awards.
clude the Artisan Tradi tion Award, Artisan De sign and Innovation Award, and the Artisan Promotion Award, each carrying a prize of €5,000. Two new awards, the Artisan Gastronomy and Artisan Fashion awards, will reward traditional food of Mallorca and unique fashion pieces respectively, each with a purse of €4,000. A seventh award, the Premi Impuls, valued at
€2,000, seeks to encour age the younger genera tion in the realm of Mal lorcan crafts. Pere Ferrer empha sised the collaboration with the artisan com munity in shaping these awards, and addressed the removal of the Arti san Woman Award, not ing that ‘women already play a fundamental role in the craft sector and must be rewarded for their quality work, be yond their gender.’
NIBS EXTRA Citizen’s arrest AFTER three containers in Palma caught fire on the evening of Saturday Decem ber 2, officers from the Na tional Police arrested a 36 yearold Bulgarian man after he was initially detained by angry residents who caught him in the act.
First aid FOLLOWING a report that an individual had accidentally fallen several metres in part of Bellver Forest, officers from the Palma Local Police were first on the scene to give initial aid before being joined by firefighters and paramedics who removed the injured person to safety.
No butts A COURT has decided the Consell de Mallorca will have to accept responsibility for an accident five years ago when two wild goats en tered the main road be tween Palma and Calvia causing a serious accident and resulted in their deaths.
Women drivers LATEST news from the Gen eral Directorate of Traffic (DGT) shows women in Mal lorca have broken the gen der gap as far as driving is concerned in 44 of the Is land’s 53 municipalities as there are more female than male driving licence holders.
Snow go WHILST the temperature in Mallorca is still in the highish teens, it’s not the same story in Germany and on Saturday December 2, no less than two return flights from Mu nich had to be cancelled due to the huge amount of snow at the airport there.
Pension plus A REPORT by the Fundación de Estudios de Economía Aplicada (Fedea) based on 2021 statistics has pointed out that of all the au tonomous communities in Spain, only the Balearic Is lands would be capable of funding its own pension scheme.
euroweeklynews.com WHILST a turkey is for Christmas not for life, a cat or a dog is certainly a re sponsibility that has to be taken on sensibly and with the expectation of commit ment for a decade or more. Sadly, there are plenty of domestic pets that are abandoned when they be come too expensive to care for, are old and not so ag ile, need regular visits to vets or their owners move away or die and they are left alone. Saving one dog or cat will not change the world, but there is no question for that one animal, the world will change forever. There are in Mallorca no less than eight organisa tions which look after cats, dogs or horses and if you
7 - 13 December 2023
Animal shelters Credit: Ralph https://pixexid.com/
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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Santaday night Man’s best friend.
want to obtain a pet or simply volunteer to help then consider one of these; Son Reus Rescue Centre Palma, SOS Calvia, Eden
Sanctuary, Amics Puigpun yent, Asociación Animal ista de Llucmajor, Cats Pro tection Pollença, Rancho Fino Costitx, Animal An
gels Shelter. A wise godparent of a furry friend will however wait until the New Year be fore adopting.
Back protection Calvia awards REGARDLESS of the political colour of the Balearic Govern ment, it has been a policy to ensure that those working in hotels are able to undertake their duties safely. There is an ongoing need to not only ensure that hy giene in rooms occupied by guests is exceptional but also to take action to protect workers from potential injuries caused when making beds. The Balearic Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports has received approval to make a further €9.8 million available by way of subsidies to allow for modernisation and much more. One area that needs ongoing financing until 2028 is the installation of bed lifting mechanisms, within the frame work of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union Next Generation EU. The intention is that staff cleaning the rooms must be able to raise the bed so that the height at which it is placed allows better cleaning of the floor of the room and also protects their backs as they don’t need to bend so far.
WEDNESDAY December 13 sees an important night for local businesses in Calvia with the hosting at the Sala Palmanova of the Gala Excelentes 2023. This is the first awards event of its kind to be held within the municipal ity and with the help of Mallorcan based group Ibeconomía a dozen local businesses have been nominated. One will be chosen from each of four categories: Innovative Company, Family Business, Local Businesses and Tourist
Christmas shoeboxes THERE are 64 care homes in Mallorca who look after varying numbers of el derly people, many of them alone and with no close family. The Rafa Nadal International School, with help from various volunteers across the island, have organised a Christmas shoebox appeal and a bit like the No Child without a Gift cam paign, those donating were asked to make it clear whether the contents of the box were for a man or a woman (or unisex). The most needed items included
slippers, blankets, chocolate treats, grooming kits, hand cream and puzzle books, all of which will be well re ceived by those in the care homes. It’s a very nice gesture that will cer tainly help to cheer up those who have to rely on the care of others and share Christmas with those who are in a sim ilar situation. It’s also a very good way of remind ing young people of the fact that they too will be old one day and may be pleased to be remembered by the younger generation at Christmas time.
Companies and the awards will be judge by a jury of experts. The awards will consist of a sculpture created by local artist Carlos Terroba, a member of the ‘Ou Verd’ artistic platform, in the shape of a heart that has become a local sym bol and is located on the Palmanova seafront. In addition, the Gala will also serve to recog nise the career of Luis Car rasco, a Calvia business man who for decades has been linked to the world of tourism and sports.
THE promised Santa Line Dance took place in the centre of Palma on the evening of Saturday De cember 2 and hundreds of people turned up. This was all about en joying themselves and creating a flash mob who not only had a great time but enjoyed an evening of music which was or ganised by Linedance Balear with the support of Palma Council. This Ball Important a Mallorca (BIM) was the last of season but certain ly caught the imagination and to ensure that every one had a chance to en joy the event which took place around the Passeig del Born there was even a live streaming of the celebrations which could be watched on line and at home. On the same night in a choir performed on the steps of the church in the Plaza Santa Eulalia.
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Balinese beds can be shared to reduce costs
FOR years now, the 14 beaches situated in Calvia have been good earners for the Council which regularly puts the rights to offer facili ties on the beaches out to tender. There is a new tender out for beach ser vices in 2024 and whoever is successful with their bid will enjoy their rights for a fouryear period with an option to extend for a further four years. As prices have risen generally across Spain, so with a potential eightyear contract, infla
Palma’s tourism declaration
THE EU Tourism Minis ters have unanimously approved the ‘Palma Declaration’, signalling a transformative shift to wards a more sustain able tourism model. This new vision for tourism is described as ‘more ecological, digital, inclusive and resilient’, according to Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Morillo.
The groundbreaking declaration was en dorsed in Palma, placing Mallorca at the heart of this pivotal moment. In a postmeeting press conference in Pal ma, Morillo highlighted the ambitions of the declaration, stating its primary goal is to ensure tourism contributes to greater job creation, economic growth, and
the ‘longterm wellbe ing of all members of the value chain, espe cially the local popula tion.’ This sentiment strongly resonates with the Mallorcan communi ty, further cementing the island’s commitment to sustainable practices. The ‘Palma Declara tion’ underlines the EU member states’ collec tive commitment to bol ster research, innova tion, and knowledge within the tourism sec tor. It aims to enhance the competitiveness of businesses in the indus try and provide an envi ronmental element to their growth. The decla ration places special em phasis on supporting SMEs, microenterprises, and tourism agents op erating in ‘outermost, rural regions, and less accessible and unpopu lated areas’.
Beaches for tender tion has to be recognised and the tender ap proves new charges for beach loungers and umbrellas will rise from €4.50 to €6.50, but there will now be an option for tourists to hire more comfortable Balinese Beds but at what is expected to be a significantly higher price. With the chance to operate in hugely popu lar tourist beach areas such as Magaluf, Santa
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Ponça and Palmanova, these licences are not going to be cheap and in fact the council ex pects to rake in more than €160 million during the first four years that the contracts are in place. Time will tell however whether the cost is likely to put off potential bidders or if they consider that the initial investment will be easily recuperated over the fouryear term, especially as beaches will remain open until November.
Decoration contest APART from the Christmas lights and markets, another popular Christmas feature is decorations in shop windows and houses so Calvia residents have an extra encouragement this year. The Council is sponsoring its Christmas decoration contest for the fourth year so owners of buildings and balconies of private homes, streets, squares and communities of owners in the municipality. Two categories have been established: an individualfamily category, in which people their properties or visible gardens can take part as the se or outdoor garden visible from the public street may participate; and the second is classed as a collective one in which neighbourhood associations and communities may work together to decorate their streets or run of houses. Anyone who wants to take part simply has to complete a
Credit: Calvia Council
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Credit: Jagrap flickr
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An Irish Christmas tree from 2022.
form available from the Council and submit it with a photograph of the decora-
tions by December 17 and the winners will be announced three days later.
Vigil for peace AS Sunday December 3 was the start of advent, it was particularly appropriate that on the previous Sunday there was a vigil for peace held at the Portals Oratory in Mallorca. Thought to date back to the sixth century, the original reason for advent was so monks would fast every day in December until Christmas. Catholics wear robes of violet during the advent period but the concept of fasting has generally disappeared and in fact many chil dren enjoy a chocolate treat every day when they open a door to their advent calendar. Considering the dreadful conflict between Israel and Hamas is taking place in the region known as the Holy Land, the vigil for peace which was promoted by Pope Francis and Caritas Interna tional saw Bishop Mn. Sebastià Taltavull speak out against conflict and emphasised the need for peace and reconciliation in the area.
PROVERB OF THE WEEK “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” This proverb is from Japan and teaches us that perseverance is one of the most important virtues. Whatever happens - keep on keeping on!
1.4 billion The number of insects per person.
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MALLORCA’S intercity bus service is undergo ing a significant winter upgrade with new timetables that will en hance services on 27 lines of the Transport of the Balearic Islands (TIB) network. The public transport makeover comes in response to a surge in demand from users since last winter. Bus services will now feature extended hours and additional vehicles during peak times, with some routes even see ing expansions. The changes will see improvements to ap proximately 30 lines across various regions. Specifically, 27 lines will extend their services – a whopping 53 per cent of the total 51 lines avail able in the upcoming months. These enhance ments cater mainly to the most soughtafter
Credit: caib.es
Improved bus services
INTERCITY BUSES: Undergoing a winter upgrade.
routes, particularly those connecting major municipalities of the Part Forana with Palma. As noted by the Minis ter of Housing, Territo ry, and Mobility, Marta Vidal, during a recent Parliament session, “The offer is increased compared to last winter with extended hours
and reinforcement of the service at peak times of the day, and there are also lines that also extend the route.” Ultimately, these changes aim to ensure consistent services for residents relying on public transport for dai ly commutes to work or educational facilities.
THE month of November saw World Radiology Day, and the Inca Regional Hospi tal stands out with its stead fast dedication to excellence, staff education, and environ mental stewardship. In 16 years, the hospital’s Radiology Service has exceed ed one million radiological tests and has continuously updated its impressive suite of equipment, now housing four radiology rooms, state oftheart imaging machines, within a 1,124 square metre space adjoining the Emergen
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Radiology revolution cy and Hospitalisation Service The team, which has four radiologists, 25 technicians, and four nurses, has achieved an average customer satisfac tion score of 4.5 out of five. A patient survey reflects this high standard. The year 2018 saw the ser vice attain the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification, un derscoring its dedication to perpetual advancement. It’s also integral to the Public Net work of Hospitals, nurturing
future radiologists. In an ecoconscious move, the service has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to reduce its ecological foot print, specifically targeting io dinated contrast waste man agement, a common yet environmentally hazardous substance. By meticulous recycling, the hospital significantly cur tails its environmental impact while promoting sustainabili ty in healthcare.
Sustainable travel Hiking route THE University of the Balearic Islands’ Geography Depart ment, in collaboration with several Spanish universities, has developed a digital atlas to encourage active, sustain able travel in urban environ ments. This interactive tool, focusing on walkability and cyclefriendliness, features in sights into urban density and green space distribution, con tributing significantly to the concept of a ‘15minute city’
where essential services are within a quarterhour walk. Comparative analyses of cities like Barcelona, Valencia, and Granada reveal varied potentials for active mobility. Professor Carme Miralles Guasch from UAB emphasis es, “the objective of the atlas is to be a rigorous and reliable source of information for a healthier and more sustain able lifestyle in urban environ ments.”
THE political party previously in control of the Consell de Mal lorca planned to introduce a 285hiking route to be known as the Ruta dels Fars, (Light house Route). It was envisaged that it would attract visitors during the cooler months who would enjoy tacking the walk from Capdepera to Andratx. The new Council has con firmed however that it is scrap ping the plan because of the difficulty and costs involved.
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EXPANDING on last week’s news that there would be nearly 100 cov ered spaces for safe park ing of bicycles, Palma Council has now gone a step further. Thought its partner Bici palma there is to be an in crease in the number of above ground docking stations for bikes in the Parc de les Estacions and the on Carrer de Blan querna corner with Avin guda del Comte de Sal lent. The number of spaces had been reduced tem porarily in September and although the number of new spaces is not enor mous at 22, they will be put to good use by bicycle riders straight away. The Council recognises that the Plaça d’Espanya area is one of the areas with the highest number of users of the Bicipalma service and therefore is doing all in its power to ensure sufficient parking to meet cyclists needs.
Credit: Balearic Government
More parking
The Mallorcan Midwife Toad figures are down.
Snakes and adders Michael Cano EVERY year, the Balearic Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Envi ronment conducts a census of certain specif ic wildlife species which may be in danger. This year, it has re solved that the steady increase in the number of Mallorcan Midwife Toads (Alytes muleten sis) on the island has been halted based on the number of larvae counted. They blame the low figure of just over
17,000 larvae speci mens on the lack of rain and very high tempera tures experience during 2023 which was made worse earlier in the year when storm Juli ette erupted and de stroyed many breeding areas. One piece of good news is that the Viper ine water snake (Natrix maura) which was in se rious decline has in creased its numbers considerably although it isn’t thought to be con nected with the decline in Midwife Toads.
Jessica Sweeting THE promotion of electric vehicles continues although we are already seeing ques tions arising over the safety of batteries, with electric scooters being banned from Mallorcan public transport. There are also questions about the fact that once a battery dies, the replace ment cost is almost as much as buying a new car, the en vironmental damage caused by producing the batteries and the ongoing physical cost of charging the car. In the Balearics, there are around 880 charging points which are currently provid ed free of charge with the cost of electricity being the responsibility of the various municipalities. As the National Govern
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Electric charge Credit: Endesa
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CHARGING: Commercial operations do already exist.
ment commits more funds to the creation of additional docking stations, it appears that those coming to Mallor ca will no longer be free and according to a report in a lo cal newspaper, those coun cils who do offer a free ser vice are going to apply for permission to charge for the charge! It is reported that each
THE health service in Mallorca is taking a bit of a battering recently as for the sec ond time in a week, the Islalink data net work crashed on the evening of Monday December 4. This basically controls the computer services of hospitals on the island and al though patients continued to be seen there were delays in treatment and
station is costing the rele vant council up to €1,000 per month to offer this free service and the majority feel that it is only fair that they are able to follow the state government’s lead. All that really remains is for a decision to be made with regards to the actual cost that drivers will have to pay.
System down booking them in. With computers effectively down, medical reports were having to be pro duced by hand and the problem lasted through the night and into the early hours of December 5.
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IN the next few days, tak ing advantage of the Black Friday offers, many people may be thinking of buying an electric scooter as a gift for the coming Christmas season. If this is the case, the Di rectorate General of Traffic (DGT) has taken the oppor tunity to remind everyone that, from January 22, 2024 only certified ‘person al mobility vehicles’ will be allowed to be sold. There have also been re ports that, sometime in 2024, the DGT will intro duce an obligatory inspec tion for electric scooters, similar to the ITV for cars (the Spanish equivalent of MOT) to make sure the scooter conforms to the certified standards. An e scooter will also have to be easier to identify, with the equivalent of a number plate. The reasons that have led the DGT to impose this measure is simply to im prove road safety by in
Photo: Pexels CC / G-FORCE Bike
E-SCOOTERS: Soon only personal mobility vehicles to be sold.
suring that the Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) that are sold in Spain have the minimum quality and durability guarantees re quired. The DGT recommends that citizens planning to purchase a PMV (electric scooters and electric bicy cles) consult the Agency’s website at www.dgt.es/vmp, where they will find the brands and models that have al ready been certified and that meet all the require ments.
From January 22, 2027 only PMVs that are certi fied by the competent au thorities will be able to used on the roads. The DGT also restates that these vehicles cannot drive on pedestrian cross ings, interurban roads, mo torways and dual carriage ways nor on pavements in towns and cities. Furthermore, as they are considered vehicles for all purposes, their drivers are obliged to comply with traffic regulations, just like everyone else.
Athlete’s tragic death ONE of Sweden’s most promising young athletes has died at the age of 21. According to a statement released by the Swedish Athletics Federation on Wednesday, November 22, Emilia Brangefält took her own life. They revealed that: ‘During her last months, Emilia felt very bad, both physi cally and mentally. She had good sup port from those closest to her, but on November 13, she ended her life.’ Kajsa Bergqvist, the captain of the Swedish Athletics Federation comment ed: “It is so deeply tragic. I have a hard time finding words. On behalf of Swedish Athletics, I send my warmest thoughts to Emilia’s closest bereaved,” she added. The young mountain runner displayed a glimpse of her future potential by win ning an SM gold medal in Genarp at the age of 20. She followed that perfor mance with a WC bronze in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in her very first international competition. This summer, Brangefält al so came fifth in the WC in Innsbruck. In an Instagram post on November 4, Emilia revealed the problems she was dealing with. “Been a while since I’ve posted anything here. And that’s be cause since the end of July my body shut down. Haven’t been able to train any thing due to an extremely high heart
Credit: Emilia Brangefält on Instagram
DEEPLY TRAGIC: Swedish mountain runner Emilia Brangefält.
rate. (120150 bpm) just standing up,” she wrote. She continued: “Maybe it was too much for a 21yearold girl to run Transvulcania 48k and WMTRC 45k with less than one month in between. I am super sad because running and training means so much. “But now, just living a normal life is difficult. I have spent more hours in bed than on my feet this past month. Maybe one day I will be back. Or I won’t. I hope my body can recover from this,” her post concluded.
By John Ensor IS the future of young drivers’ mobility about to change? The Ministry of the Interior, as part of its ‘Road Safety Strategy 2023′ plan, unveiled a new driving permit that could rede fine vehicular access for the youth. The scheme, which was an nounced in the previous leg islative session, the B1 licence remains a key agenda and is expected to come into force in 2024. The introduction of the B1 li cence was announced as a sig nificant development in the realm of road safety and elec tric mobility. This initiative aims to provide young individ uals, starting at 16, with a more gradual and responsible path to car driving. The B1 licence, deriving from the existing type B li cence, has already seen suc cessful implementation in countries like the United King dom, Italy, and Portugal. The B1 licence facilitates en hanced mobility for young drivers and contributes to the
Credit: BestPhotoSudio/Shutterstock.com
E-Scooter certification Green light to B1 Licence
YOUNG DRIVERS: A more responsible path to car driving.
broader goals of road safety and sustainable transporta tion. It recognises the growing in terest among the youth in electric vehicles and aims to in tegrate them into the trans portation system safely and re sponsibly. The B1 licence stands out with its eligibility age set at 16, a notable shift from the cur rent options limited to motor cycles and mopeds. This new category enables youngsters to operate motorised quadri cycles, tricycles, quads, and light quadricycles. These vehi cles can weigh up to 400 kilo
grams (excluding battery weight for electric models) and have a maximum power of 15 kW. Particularly, it applies to L7e classified vehicles, pre dominantly electric, with pow er not exceeding 15kW. Validity of the B1 licence ex tends up to three years, post which holders can upgrade to the standard B licence upon reaching adulthood. To obtain the B1 licence, applicants must clear both theoretical and practical examinations. The launch of this licence, initially scheduled for this year, was postponed due to political delays.
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THE Euro Weekly News has teamed up with Age in Spain to uncover some of the great things happening around the country. We want to find those un sung heroes who deserve to be thanked for what they’re doing. Dinner for two, a cer tificate for framing, and con gratulations from the UK Am bassador to Spain await the winner. Has someone done you a good turn? Nominating them for the Good Neighbour Award is a great way to say thank you. The outright winner last year was Lucia Miguel Bores from Carrion de los Condes, in Spain’s meseta. The lan guage school she founded has become a portal for new comers to Spain, not only to learn language skills but through which people get help to deal with the chal lenges of life in a new coun try. Grateful students nomi nated Lucia for the award.
Credit: Holger Kraft/Pixabay
Good neighbour 2023
Does someone help you with the shopping?
There was a special com mendation for Kay Rowbot tom in Mojacar who, during lockdown, set up an online support group for women who felt isolated or vulnera ble. Also, Kay Frances Sturdy girlsRus, beginning as a local group for Spanish women and incomers, it now has more than 1,500 members throughout the world. With her late husband, Peter, Pat Love from the Loja area of Granada won special commendation for starting a
group for Englishspeaking migrants to Spain. Pat coor dinated with UK Consular services in Granada and Malaga to help newcomers find their feet in their adopt ed country. It takes two minutes to nominate someone (that person must live in Spain) and everyone nominated will receive congratulations from Age in Spain. Go to www.ageinspain. org/goodneighbouraward to say thank you to that special person who’s helped you.
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Most international village SPAIN has become home to many nationalities from around the world, but there is one munic ipality that has an overwhelming number of foreigners, where nine out of every 10 inhabi tants come from another country. Have you ever wondered which Spanish vil lage has the most international population? And where are they from? The answer lies in Torre del Burgo, a small but remarkable munic ipality in Guadalajara. In the second quarter of 2023, as revealed by the Continuous Population Statistics conducted by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics, the Spanish population reached a record 48,345,223. This significant growth is attributed largely to the influx of foreign nationals, impact ing not just Torre del Burgo, but the entire country. Spain has witnessed a widespread increase in its foreign population, with significant rises in regions such as the Balearic Islands, the Valen cian Community, and the Community of Madrid. As of July 1, 2023, out of Spain’s total popula tion, 42,009,804 are Spanish nationals, and 6,335,419 are foreign residents. This surge is re shaping the demographic landscape of the country. In most provincial capitals, foreign nationals make up less than 12 per cent of the popula tion. However, cities like Barcelona, Girona,
Credit: Emilio J. Rodriguez Posada
8
INTERNATIONAL: Torre del Burgo, in Guadalajara.
Lleida, and Tarragona exceed this average, with Almeria leading at 28 per cent. Towns such as Partaloa, Arboleas, and Bedar have even more foreign than national residents. Torre del Burgo, spanning 4.91 square kilo metres and primarily driven by agriculture, stands out with an astonishing 87.13 per cent foreign population, which translates to 413 out of its 474 inhabitants. Predominantly from Bulgaria, but also in cluding Polish, Romanian, and Moroccan na tionals, the village’s unique demographic com position offers a glimpse into a diverse cultural landscape. In this unique setting, a Bulgarian greeting, ‘Zdravey, kak si?’ might be more com mon than the traditional Spanish ‘Hola, ¿como estas?’. This reflects the profound impact of the foreign population on the local culture and so cial interactions in Torre del Burgo.
Spain’s housing market sizzles: Supply shrinks by 4% in a year
A RECENT study published by Idealista has unveiled intrigu ing trends in the Spanish property market. According to the study, the supply of homes for sale in Spain has experienced a 4 per cent decrease during the third quarter of 2023 compared to
the same period last year, in dicating shifts in the country’s real estate landscape. The majority of Spanish provincial capitals have wit nessed a decline in the avail ability of homes for sale, with notable reductions in Cuenca (34 per cent) and Avila (30
per cent). Other cities experiencing significant decreases include Huelva, Santander, Valencia, Toledo, Soria, and Tarragona. However, nine provincial capitals have bucked this trend, with increases in hous ing supply. Notable cities include Cor doba and Pamplona (10 per cent increase), followed by Huesca (9 per cent), San Se bastian (8 per cent), Zaragoza (5 per cent), Cadiz (5 per cent), and Badajoz (3 per cent). Vitoria has maintained a stable housing stock over the past year. With varied dynam ics among the major markets, several cities have witnessed a reduction in housing supply, such as Alicante (15 per cent), Palma (11 per cent), Barcelona (10 per cent), Malaga (3 per cent), and Madrid (1 per cent). Conversely, Bilbao and Sevilla have experienced slight increases of 2 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. At the provincial level, the situation mirrors the dynam ics observed in provincial capi tals.
ADVERTISING FEATURE UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement on 22 November. For UK residents the good news was the cuts in National Insurance Contribitions, though income tax thresholds remain frozen. It was also confirmed that three new pension allowances will be introduced. National Insurance contributions cuts Now that UK inflation has halved and the economic recovery is swifter than expected, there was room for tax cuts. Effective 6 January 2024, the main rate of Class 1 employee National Insurance contributions (NICs) will be reduced from 12% to 10%, while for Class 4 self-employed people the rate decreases from 9% to 8% from 6 April 2024. Tax allowances remain frozen The National Insurance cuts are welcome, but only partially offset the fiscal drag created by the frozen income tax thresholds. The budget did not include any plans to remove the freeze, scheduled until 2028. Often referred to as ‘tax by stealth’, freezing thresholds and allowances results in many taxpayers paying more tax over time. The pension triple lock rise The government confirmed its commitment to the pensions triple lock, where the state pension is augmented by
euroweeklynews.com
7 - 13 December 2023
EWN
9
UK Autumn Budget and new pensions allowances By Cathal Rochford, Partner, Blevins Franks
the highest of three metrics: average earnings growth, Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation, or a minimum of 2.5%. The State Pension therefore rises by 8.5% from next April, in line with earnings. New pension allowances Legislation proposed in the Autumn
Finance Bill 2023 eliminates the Lifetime Allowance and introduces three allowances in its place. Two were anticipated, but official documents published the same day as the Autumn Statement also revealed a new ‘Overseas Transfer Allowance’. Lump Sum Allowance The Lump Sum Allowance (LSA) applies to payments made during the pension scheme member's lifetime. It will be set at a fixed limit of £268,275. It encompasses tax-free cash from Pension Commencement Lump Sums and Uncrystallised Funds Pension Lump Sums. Notably, it also includes trivial commutation lump sums, small lump sums and winding-up lump sums with uncrystallised rights. The Lump Sum Death Benefits Allowance The Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (LSDBA) will have a fixed limit of £1,073,100 and be applicable to death lump sum payments.
When the death benefit is paid as a lump sum, it will only be tax-free if it falls below the deceased's remaining LSDBA. Any excess will be taxable at the beneficiary’s marginal rate of income tax. This applies regardless of the member’s age when they die. If the pension fund is designated to drawdown within two years of the death, and the benefit is taken as pension income, the age of death remains relevant. If the death occurs before age 75, the payment will be tax free. If after 75, the recipient will pay income tax. The Overseas Transfer Allowance Also starting next April, the Overseas Transfer Allowance (OTA) will apply to transfers of registered pension schemes out of the UK into Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions Schemes (QROPS). It will also be set at £1,073,100. From the information released so far – the proposed law is yet to receive royal assent– one could conclude that the
Overseas Transfer Allowance metaphorically replaces the Lifetime Allowance for overseas transfers. While transfers into QROPS were tested against the Lifetime Allowance until April 2023, from 2024 they will be tested against Overseas Transfer Allowance. Any excess will now be subject to the Overseas Transfer Charge of 25%. These reforms make an already complex regime even more of a minefield, particularly for expatriates, so it is important to take personalised, regulated cross-border advice. The 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.
10 EWN 7 - 13 December 2023
NORWAY Fuel duel GREENPEACE and Friends of the Earth’s Norwegian branch launched a lawsuit challenging the government permission to open three new offshore oil and gas fields. Norway should leave the oil "where it is," they maintained, and accused the government of using petrol to extinguish the “climate crisis fire.”
In the dark A SPECIALIST firm was chosen to design minimal lighting for comfort stop toilets along the Hardanger section of the 18 roads included in the Norwegian Scenic Routes. The public loos designed by architect studio Code needed a ‘sensitive lighting scheme’ that would not stop visitors from appreciating the spectacular landscape.
SWEDEN
euroweeklynews.com
EURO PRESS THE NETHERLANDS
Ottoman gift A HANDMADE carpet given to the Peace Palace in The Hague by the Ottoman sultan, Abdulhamid II in 1907, has been sent for restoration to Aksaray (Turkey). Twenty-five people will work for a year on the carpet before it is returned to the Peace Place, which now houses the International Court of Justice.
IRELAND Hygiene poverty A SMALL-SCALE survey carried out by Trinity College Dublin found that 65 per cent of respondents went without basic toiletries or hygiene items this year because they could not afford them. Sixty-nine per cent admitted feeling ‘embarrassed or ashamed’, while 61.2 per cent reported increased stress.
Charge it
NETHERLANDS: Turkey carpet will take a year to restore. Photo credit: hurimg/i/hurriyet.com
GERMANY
EUROPEAN PRESS
FRANCE
EIGHTY-FIVE per cent of drivers with electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland said they found running costs were lower than their previous petrol or diesel car. A further 62 per cent of motorists who currently drive an EV said that they would happily buy another when choosing their next vehicle.
PORTUGAL
Fine example
Lucky star
Chanel myth
Fair shares
WHILE Tesla battles Sweden’s IF Metall for refusing to sign a collective agreement, the union’s lawyer, Darko Davidovic, has played a leading role in negotiations. Despite his criticism of the carmaker's stance, insiders revealed that Davidovic’s family currently uses a Tesla Model Y, while he drove a Model S in the past.
WHEN Lucy, a three-year-old tabby disappeared from her Wallensen (Hanover) home in November 2022, her family thought the worst until she turned up 60 kilometres away in Garbesen a year later. A cat lover took her in and, since Lucky was luckily chipped, she was immediately reunited with her family.
HISTORIAN Guillaume Pollack questioned the authenticity of new documents suggesting that Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was a member of the Resistance as well as a Nazi informant during the Second World War. Chanel possibly used the documents to restore her reputation after the war, Pollack said.
ONE-HUNDRED teachers demonstrated in front of the Portuguese parliament, calling for the government to allocate at least 6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product on education. The teachers claimed that with tax revenue increased by €2 billion, it was a missed opportunity not to invest in state schools.
Cheaper coffee
Direct route
Metro hike
New foods
COFFEE prices dropped by around 6 Krona (€0.53) a kilo as prices stabilised following a steep rise in 2021 owing to poor crops in Brazil and higher shipping prices during the pandemic. With the prospect of an abundant 2024 harvest, prices are now falling the Matpriskollen food price comparison website, said.
PART of German Rail’s future 150-kilometre line between Dresden and the Czech capital, Prague, will include the country’s longest tunnel. This will enable passengers to travel between the two cities in 60 minutes at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour once the line is completed in the mid2040s.
PARIS metro tickets will practically double in price between July and September next year to help meet the cost of expanding the city’s transport network for the 2024 Olympic Games. Millions of people are expected to flock to the capital when the Games are held from July 26 until August 11.
MICROHARVEST, a German biotechnology company producing sustainable proteins through microbial fermentation has opened a pilot plant in Lisbon where it intends to speed up marketing of its single-cell protein additive. This has many uses, the company said, including environmentally-friendly aquafeed for fish farms.
DENMARK
FINLAND
BELGIUM
ITALY Fast fashion LUCA CIUFFREDA, director of Primark Italy, announced €50 million plans for five new stores, bringing a total of 20 nationwide. Ciuffreda, who joined the fast fashion chain when it opened in Italy in 2016, revealed that the new shops would be inspired by the latest retail innovations and ‘Italian style and architecture’.
Expo letdown ROME lost out to Saudi Arabia which has been chosen to host the 2030 World Expo that hopes to attract millions of visitors. Members of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris awarded runner-up Rome 17 of a possible 165 votes, with 119 going instead to Riyadh despite its human rights failings.
Epidemic level
Good dog
Mussel power
DENMARK’S State Serum Institute (SSI), responsible for the prevention of infectious diseases, prevention reported that atypical pneumonia cases had reached epidemic level, particularly amongst the six-to-12 age group. The Institute’s Hanne-Dorthe Emborg said that a “significantly” higher number of cases were prevalent across the country.
PEPI, a sniffer dog that works with Customs officers in Turku, has been named Customs Dog of the Year. The labrador-retriever was responsible for locating several consignments of amphetamines as well as a stash of ecstasy that was hidden in children’s toys imported from the Netherlands.
BELGIAN scientists and mussel growers are collaborating on an experiment off the La Panne beach to prevent erosion. They have applied for a government grant to install mussel reefs between the shallow coastal waters and the North Sea to halt the powerful currents that strip sand from the beaches.
Getting colder SOME parts of Denmark experienced the coldest November night of the century as temperatures plunged to double digits below zero. Copenhagen’s Roskilde Airport’s weather station registered 15 degrees below freezing, while 7.7 degrees below zero in the city's Frederiksberg district was the lowest since 1919.
Post early FINLAND’S principal postal service, Posti, handled around 1.4 million parcels during Black Friday week, which also coincided with the beginning of the Christmas period. Posti has now opened 37 temporary pickup points and begun Saturday parcels’ deliveries in major cities to guarantee coverage over the holiday season.
Cut the cackle A NEW dating app called Breeze is unlike all others, as it provides no chat function but asks users who match if they are available for a date, which can they confirm for a €9 fee. “Singles no longer want to chat superficially and endlessly online,” co-owner Marco van der Woude said.
Advertising Feature
FINANCE DOUG PUTMAN, owner of HMV who hoped to rescue Wilko which collapsed into ad ministration with debts of £625 million (€723 million), said the failed retailer’s suppli ers and landlords were ‘super inflexible’. They did not think of the 12,000plus jobs that would have been saved, Put man claimed.
Helping out YOUNG Spanish wageearners are now earning less in real terms than their parents did at the same age, a BBVAfinanced survey revealed. It also found that 37 per cent of the over 60s had helped their children over the last year to buy the weekly shop or to pay their electricity or water bills.
Big bills AROUND seven million square feet (650,321 square metres) of Canary Wharf office space does not comply with environ mental property standards, as the UK government imple ments its green agenda. Dock lands landlords will now have to spend £300 (€347) per square foot to convert proper ties and remain within the law.
EV delay SEAT’S Martorell (Barcelona) plant will start building electric vehicles in 2026, instead of mid2024 as originally planned. The delay is linked to doubts as to whether the batteries for the cars will come from the gi gafactory currently under con struction in Sagunto (Valencia) or the Salzgitter plant in Ger many.
Looking ahead ROLLSROYCE chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic plans to in crease mediumterm annual operating profits to £2.8 billion (€3.2 billion) measured against the £1.4 billion (€1.6 billion) forecast for 2023. The Rolls Royce chief also wants to see a free cash flow of £2.8 billion (€3.2 billion) and £3.1 billion (€3.6 billion).
was spent on soft drinks in Spain last year, with sales that STAT OF were 15 per cent more than in 2021 and exceeded preWEEK €4.3 billion Covid figures for the first time.
Ferrovial leaves Heathrow SPANISH multinational Fer rovial is selling its 25 per stake in Heathrow airport for £2.4 billion (€2.7 billion). Ten per cent will go to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund run by the Sau di crown prince, Mo hammed bin Salman, and 15 per cent to the French private equity firm Ardian. The sale must first obtain regulatory clearance and it is also dependent on the rights of other shareholders in FGP Topco, Heathrow’s parent company. These in clude the Qatar Investment Authority and the Aus tralian Retirement Trust. Ferrovial began trimming down its 56 per cent stake
Photo credit: CC/Orderinchaos
Too late
euroweeklynews.com • 7 - 13 December 2023
HEATHROW AIRPORT: Ferrovial sells its 25 per cent stake.
in Heathrow in 2012 and has held an unchanging 25 per cent since 2013. Heathrow is currently running at a loss but the shortfall began to contract this year as passenger num bers returned to 2019 lev
IBERDROLA, Europe’s biggest electrici ty company and the secondlargest globally, intends to invest £12 billion (€13.9 billion) in the UK between 2024 and 2028. The company’s executive chairman Ignacio Sanchez Galan explained Iber drola’s plans to the British PM, Rishi Sunak, and Defence secretary Grant Shapps during the recent UK Global Investment Summit. Galan stressed that thanks to the UK’s stable and predictable regulatory frameworks Iberdrola was “more committed than ever” to continuing to invest in its networks and renew ables. The company had invested approxi mately £30 billion (€34.7 billion) over
Chipping in AMERICAN companies are in terested in opening semicon ductor factories in Spain, re vealed Mark Gitenstein, the US ambassador to the EU. Gitenstein said during a re cent visit to Madrid that there was growing interest thanks to the Spanish government’s €12.25 billion PERTE chip pro gramme. “I know of at least two American companies consider ing Spain for this type of ven ture,” the ambassador said. Semiconductor giant Broad com announced plans to build an electronic chip plant here last July, suggesting that an other manufacturer is also eyeing Spain for future invest ment.
els, following the pandemic restrictions which at one stage grounded practically all air traffic worldwide. The airport received 59.4 million passengers between January 1 and September 30, a 34.4 per cent increase
Iberdrola’s UK projects Photo credit: hbpl.co.uk
BUSINESS EXTRA
12
UK COMMITMENT: Rishi Sunak, Grant Shapps and Ignacio Galan.
the past 15 years in the UK’s electrici ty grid and renewable generation ca
Float for buoyant Puig CATALAN fragrance, cosmetics and fashion company Puig is planning a stock exchange float for early 2024. Amongst other brands, Puig owns Charlotte Tilbury, Carolina Herrera, Pa co Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, Nina Ricci and Penhaligon’s. Initial market valuations put a figure of around €10 billion on a future list ing but sources quoted in the financial daily Cinco Dias emphasised that the company’s plans are still at an early stage. JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and STJ Advisors as well as the Linklaters and Cuatrecasas law firms were all named as consultants in the operation. Puig reported revenues of €3.6 bil lion last year and €400 million in prof its, which was well ahead of its three year plan announced in 2022 that foresaw a turnover of €3 billion by 2023 and €4.5 billion in 2025.
on the same nine months in 2022. Ferrovial, which has a 50 per cent holding in Ab erdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports and owns 49 per cent of Termi nal One at New York City’s JFK, remains ‘fully commit ted’ to carry on investing in its airport interests, Luke Bugeja, Ferrovial Airports’ chief executive said. When markets opened on November 29, Ferrovial shares rose 2.5 per cent while Banco Sabadell ana lysts were quoted in the me dia as saying that the compa ny would now invest in projects “with more attrac tive returns than Heathrow.”
pacity, he added. Meanwhile, ScottishPower was the UK’s first utility to generate 100 per cent green electricity. Around twothirds of Iberdrola’s 202428 investments will focus on transmission and distribution electrici ty networks, with projects including the £2.7 billion (€3.1 billion) Eastern Green Link 1 undersea transmission cable, which received the goahead in November this year. Construction is due to begin in early 2024 and, once completed, will trans port enough clean, green, renewable energy to supply up to two million homes while increasing the resilience of the UK’s transmission grid, Galan announced.
Metro rescue METRO BANK shareholders have approved a £925 million (€1.07 billion) rescue deal. A refinancing proposal re ceived ‘very strong support’ as more than 90 per cent of Metro shareholders voted for ‘all resolu tions’, the bank revealed on November 27. Metro announced last month that it had negotiated a £925 mil lion package consisting of £325 million (€376 million) in new capi tal plus £600 million (€694 mil lion) of debt. The bank’s largest shareholder, Spaldy Investments owned by Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilin ski Bacal, increased its stake from 9 per cent to 53 per cent by con tributing £102 million (€118 mil lion) of the new capital.
Slow to grow BANK OF ENGLAND governor An drew Bailey voiced concerns re garding the UK’s future growth prospects at the end of last month. Days after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) reduced its growth predictions for the next two years, Bailey told a Newcastle newspaper that the “supply side” of the economy had slowed. “If you look at what I call the po tential growth rates of the econo my, there’s no doubt it’s lower than it has been in much of my working life,” he said. Asked about interest rates, the Bank of England government an swered that they were unlikely to be cut “for the foreseeable future.”
Telefonica redundancies BETWEEN 2,500 and 3,000 of Tele fonica’s 17,000 employees are to be made redundant. The company, which has not yet announced specific numbers, dis cussed the redundancies with union leaders on November 27, the Union General de Traba jadores (UGT) confirmed after a meeting to negotiate the collective bargaining agreement. This was an unexpected move on Telefonica’s part, following last October’s rumours of early retire ment and ‘incentivised departures’ for 5,000 staff members. Negotiating tables to discuss the collective bargaining agreement and the redundancies would be set up in early December, with an official statement regarding the number of workers affected.
Telegraph worries A GROUP of MPs asked minis ters to investigate a deal that would give control of the Tele graph to a United Arab Emi ratesbacked consortium. The call from MPs, who in cluded the former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith, asked ministers to use national security legislation to investi gate the Barclay family’s pro posed deal with RedBird IMI. The Abu Dhabibacked joint venture is preparing to deliver a letter to the UK’s Culture sec retary, giving her 48 hours’ no tice that the Barclays’ £1.16 bil lion (€1.34 billion) debt with Lloyds Bank is ready for repay ment.
FINANCE
14 EWN 7 - 13 December 2023
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LONDON - FTSE 100
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CLOSING PRICES 4 DECEMBER
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
NET VOL
InterContinental
6.336,0
+32,0
+0,51%
6,08K
Intermediate Capital
1.591,92
+6,00
+0,38%
6,28K
18,31K
Intertek
4.049,0
+15,0
+0,37%
7,77K
-2,36%
296,76K
ITV
60,94
+1,02
+1,71%
1,05M
-15,00
-1,00%
53,20K
J Sainsbury
284,60
+0,10
+0,04%
57,90K
4.903,0
+1,0
+0,02%
21,93K
Johnson Matthey
1.560,5
-11,5
-0,73%
12,16K
Associated British Foods
2.396,0
+9,0
+0,38%
53,30K
Land Securities
638,60
+5,00
+0,79%
125,49K
AstraZeneca
10.198,0
0,0
0,00%
32,28K
Legal & General
228,00
+0,50
+0,22%
431,06K
13,69K
Lloyds Banking
44,95
+0,46
+1,03%
11,31M
204,54K
London Stock Exchange
8.984,1
-10,0
-0,11%
8,39K
COMPANY
PRICE(P)
CHANGE(P)
% CHG.
3I Group
2.257,00
+9,00
+0,40%
56,80K
Abrdn
166,70
+2,55
+1,55%
104,24K
Admiral Group
2.695,7
-9,0
-0,33%
Anglo American
2.256,5
-54,5
Antofagasta
1.480,50
Ashtead Group
Auto Trader Group Plc Aviva
724,40 418,20
+3,00
+0,42%
NET VOL
COMPANY
1.16541
0.85804
Units per €
US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0817 Japan yen (JPY)........................................159.71 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9493 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4557 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.651
-1,60
-0,38%
B&M European Value Retail SA593,60
+4,60
+0,78%
81,56K
Melrose Industries
540,40
+6,60
+1,24%
126,73K
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BAE Systems
1.050,91
-8,50
-0,80%
252,27K
Mondi
1.438,50
-4,50
-0,31%
73,90K
THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER
Barclays
142,82
+0,46
+0,32%
1,70M
National Grid
1.034,00
+1,00
+0,10%
134,71K
Barratt Developments
522,40
+2,60
+0,50%
138,26K
NatWest Group
213,60
+2,40
+1,14%
792,32K
8.082,0
+40,0
+0,50%
11,57K
+19,80
+3,33%
141,23K
Berkeley
4.739,0
+27,0
+0,57%
3,36K
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BHP Group Ltd
2.443,00
-31,50
-1,27%
42,83K
Ocado
614,48
BP
468,35
-10,05
-2,10%
2,28M
Persimmon
1.287,0
+4,5
+0,35%
24,65K
98,47K
Phoenix
471,62
+1,70
+0,36%
69,61K
Prudential
868,00
-0,80
-0,09%
147,77K
British American Tobacco 2.520,0
+12,0
+0,48%
British Land Company
363,20
+2,30
+0,64%
52,82K
BT Group
124,20
+0,55
+0,45%
744,56K
Bunzl
2.984,9
-11,0
-0,37%
2,89K
Burberry Group
1.511,0
+12,5
+0,83%
87,25K
Carnival
1.110,9
+30,0
+2,77%
22,34K
Centrica
151,75
-0,80
-0,52%
410,42K
Coca Cola HBC AG
2.220,0
+1,0
+0,04%
48,84K
Reckitt Benckiser
5.424,0
+8,0
+0,15%
34,80K
Relx
3.040,00
-10,00
-0,33%
135,18K
Rentokil
431,00
+2,90
+0,68%
170,62K
Rightmove
560,20
+8,00
+1,45%
59,28K
Rio Tinto PLC
5.454,0
-145,0
-2,59%
165,92K
Rolls-Royce Holdings
286,75
+10,00
+3,61%
4,23M
Sage
1.153,00
+4,00
+0,35%
76,84K
Samsung Electronics DRC 1.385,00
+7,00
+0,51%
0,69K
Schroders
407,3
+0,9
+0,22%
154,93K
Scottish Mortgage
721,90
+2,40
+0,33%
115,69K
Segro
827,80
+4,40
+0,53%
88,14K
Severn Trent
2.607,5
-9,0
-0,34%
67,25K
Shell
2.524,5
-43,5
-1,69%
568,43K
Smith & Nephew
1.038,73
+2,50
+0,24%
86,02K
Smiths Group
1.652,50
-7,00
-0,42%
23,88K
Spirax-Sarco Engineering 9.298,0
+20,0
+0,22%
3,01K
SSE
1.852,00
+7,00
+0,38%
74,73K
St. James’s Place
665,80
+7,60
+1,16%
63,43K
Standard Chartered
653,40
+0,80
+0,12%
161,60K
Taylor Wimpey
132,05
+0,90
+0,69%
465,78K
Tesco
281,01
+1,40
+0,50%
509,02K
Tui
501,50
+12,00
+2,46%
63,04K
Unilever
3.791,5
+11,0
+0,29%
114,15K 472,37K
Compass
2.035,00
+9,00
+0,44%
84,92K
CRH
5.058,0
+18,0
+0,36%
30,58K
Croda Intl
4.501,7
+23,0
+0,51%
5,19K
DCC
5.500,0
+14,0
+0,26%
3,20K
Diageo
2.816,0
0,0
0,00%
112,99K
DS Smith
302,84
+6,50
+2,19%
593,14K
EasyJet
478,00
+5,80
+1,23%
477,22K
Experian
2.928,0
+4,0
+0,14%
30,23K
Ferguson
13.320,0
-235,0
-1,73%
10,02K
Flutter Entertainment
12.240,0
-355,0
-2,82%
71,72K
Fresnillo
588,47
-3,80
-0,64%
46,20K
Glencore
447,05
-10,65
-2,33%
1,73M
GSK plc
1.454,20
+18,20
+1,27%
167,13K
Halma
2.144,0
+11,0
+0,52%
71,57K
Hargreaves Lansdown
716,00
+3,80
+0,53%
30,23K
Hikma Pharma
1.749,50
-8,50
-0,48%
13,03K
HSBC
603,40
-0,70
-0,12%
880,74K
United Utilities
1.081,00
-11,00
-1,01%
IAG
158,88
+2,38
+1,52%
926,60K
Vodafone Group PLC
71,56
-0,11
-0,15%
2,72M
Imperial Brands
1.876,50
+18,00
+0,97%
75,28K
Whitbread
3.194,0
+12,0
+0,38%
14,47K
Informa
763,00
+6,00
+0,79%
66,63K
WPP
720,80
+10,00
+1,41%
101,54K
DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 4 DECEMBER
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
99,85 173,75 272,45 191,24 233,85 256,76 144,81 48,47 58,63 52,30 348,59 319,68 197,78 160,57 43,74 158,38 156,93 285,92 103,44 374,51 113,48 152,67 259,99 182,01 547,01 38,57 257,05 20,79 154,35 92,55
+0,78 +2,98 +2,81 +1,29 +2,22 +6,04 +1,21 +0,09 +0,19 +0,55 +7,05 +6,19 +1,86 +2,01 -0,96 +3,72 +0,85 +4,08 +0,96 -4,40 +3,58 -0,85 +8,09 +1,39 -4,08 +0,24 +0,37 +0,85 -1,34 -0,14
+0,79% 2,70M +1,75% 2,91M +1,04% 2,02M +0,68% 40,06M +0,96% 6,44M +2,41% 3,03M +0,84% 11,09M +0,19% 18,00M +0,33% 13,74M +1,06% 3,32M +2,06% 1,88M +1,97% 3,23M +0,95% 2,81M +1,27% 4,78M -2,15% 39,51M +2,41% 8,59M +0,54% 8,49M +1,45% 2,90M +0,94% 6,52M -1,16% 29,21M +3,26% 7,69M -0,55% 5,29M +3,21% 14,23M +0,77% 1,16M -0,74% 3,31M +0,63% 17,89M +0,14% 3,78M +4,26% 12,12M -0,86% 11,20M -0,15% 9,96M M - MILLION DOLLARS
NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 4 DECEMBER
COMPANY Most Advanced Elastic N.V. UiPath Inc. Samsara Inc. Upstart Holdings, Inc. Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Vornado Realty Trust Carvana Co. HashiCorp, Inc. Lyft, Inc. Enovix Corporation
CHANGE NET / %
VOLUME
+37.13% +26.72% +25.60% +20.96% +14.45% +14.31% +13.68% +12.39% +12.14% +12.02% +11.92%
12.197M 53.009M 16.514M 17.616M 57.061M 5.431M 5.428M 12.032M 4.504M 32.276M 5.271M
-34.54% -7.27% -7.22% -6.56% -6.22% -5.26% -5.24% -5.19% -5.12% -4.66% -4.34%
159,078 8.582M 5.529M 836,350 42,995 25.376M 12.614M 14.19M 103.187M 1.485M 95,570
Most Declined Incannex Healthcare Inc. Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. VinFast Auto Ltd. Central Puerto S.A. Pacific Gas and Electric Company Marvell Technology, Inc. XPeng Inc. Dell Technologies Inc. Pfizer Inc. LifeStance Health Group, Inc. BOC Aviation Limited
‘
FINANCE
euroweeklynews.com
ASK THE EXPERT Peter Loveday
Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com
• Euro EUR/GBP: Down from £0.87 to £0.86 EUR/USD: Up from $1.05 to $1.09 The euro closed October on the back foot as the European Central Bank (ECB) ended 15 months of consecutive interest rate hikes by leaving its monetary policy unchanged at its latest policy meeting. Weak Eurozone data and a cooling of inflation placed further pressure on the euro, before the single currency bounced back as we entered November, underpinned by its strong negative correlation with the US dollar. Further support came from the release of stronger-than-expected German factory orders, while risk-off flows also buoyed EUR exchange rates. The euro then faced resistance in the middle of the month. While Germany reported a stronger-thanexpected rebound in economic sentiment, demand for the safe-haven currency was stymied by a sharp upswing in market risk appetite.
7 - 13 December 2023
US DOLLAR NOSEDIVES ON DISAPPOINTING DATA, POUND BOLSTERED BY HAWKISH BOE EUR exchange rates then struggled to find support in the second half of November, partly due to a warning from the ECB regarding the risks posed by weak growth and high interest rates to the Eurozone’s financial stability. Looking ahead, the immediate focus for EUR investors is likely to be the latest Eurozone consumer price index. Another cooling of inflation could push the ECB to begin discussing interest rate cuts when it holds it final policy meeting. • Pound GBP/EUR: Unchanged at €1.14 GBP/USD: Up from $1.21 to $1.25 The pound traded in a wide range over the last month in response to mixed data and uncertainty over Bank of England (BoE) monetary policy. After stumbling at the end of October amid UK recession fears, Sterling was rocked by the BoE’s latest interest rate decision. While the BoE left rates on hold, a surprisingly hawkish split within the Monetary Policy Committee, infused volatility into GBP exchange rates.
CURRENCY OUTLOOK: The pound could end the year on a high.
Dovish comments from BoE Chief Economist Huw Pill, then pulled the pound lower again as he hinted at possible rate cuts by the bank by the end of 2024. Movement in Sterling then grew even more volatile in light of some mixed UK data releases. While GBP exchange rates were supported by surprisingly positive GDP and employment data. Cooler-than-expected inflation and an unexpected contraction in retail sales countered these releases. The pound then rocked towards
the end of November. After initially finding support from some hawkish BoE commentary, Sterling sentiment faltered amid an underwhelming response to UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement. The BoE is scheduled to hold one more policy meeting before the end of 2023. If the bank continues to strike a broadly hawkish tone this could see the pound end the year on a high. • US Dollar USD/GBP: Down from $0.82 to
EWN 15
$0.79 USD/EUR: Down from €0.94 to €0.91 The US dollar has fallen off a cliff over the past four weeks, with the currency sliding to new multi-month lows against the pound and the euro. The collapse of USD comes as some high-impact US data missed the mark, which triggered a sharp pullback in Federal Reserve rate hike bets. This was initially linked to the latest US non-farm payrolls data, after October’s figures printed well below expectations and shone a spotlight on the slowing US labour market. An even sharper USD selloff was then witnessed following the publication of the latest US CPI figures. With both headline and core inflation cooling more than expected last month. This not only cemented expectations the Fed has reached the end of its hiking cycle, but also began to stoke rate cut speculation. Looking ahead, the Fed is set to hold this year’s final policy meeting in December. No policy changes are expected next month, but the US central bank is likely to give a rough outline of its policy plans for 2024. Could hints of a rate cut see the US dollar test new lows?
Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 Spain +34 950 478 914 • Email euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com.
LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT IS there such a thing as a diversity biscuit? If so the deluge of TV com mercial, Christmastide presenta tions truly does take the full tin. A whole conglomeration of adverts has been sanitised by political correct ness, dissected with diversity, mugged by multiculturist and treat ed to a positive blizzard of ‘snow flaking’ that is utterly mind boggling. Mixed marriages and relationships abound. Bunches of people in cars, restau rants and crowd locations, all contain the ‘correct’ number of white and ethnic minorities. Happy families, of carefully selected denominations, gather around tables groaning with Christmas fare; and all is well with the world on the birthday of Our Lord. Unfortunately, this socalled ‘merry’ conception is in no way a true reflection of the main bulk of British society. The great cities and communities of the UK are more seg regated than ever. Whole boroughs are dedicated to one particular race or religion. Growing numbers of British citizens don’t even celebrate
euroweeklynews.com
Mind boggling Christmas. Diversity is not working. Last December, on a short UK visit, I telephoned the Salvation Army, en quiring as to why I had noticed their Christmas Carol street appearances seemed to be missing in certain (of ten unlikely) shopping areas; they in formed me that they were very care ful to now only present the Christian Army Bands where they would be acknowledged! Until we face up to the truth, we will NEVER find the ShangriLa of existence so desperate ly depicted by these sadly delusional ostriches who are in utter denial of the true state of affairs and seem to worm their way into every nook and cranny of our beleaguered social ex istence. It did strike me that the gatherings of those responsible for these ads must produce some of the most racial riddled confusing mish mash of problems imaginable. Terrified of being declared nonPC, the selection committees, or casting agents, are no longer torn between those who may have more talent and be better qualified for the gig, but more importantly are judged by
their ethnic background and appear ance. The young Lady causing all the dissent on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ (some thing she most certainly is not!) is a prime example. Thousands of letters and comments on social media are voicing their dissatisfaction over her inclusion and attitude. The whole thing has become utterly ridiculous. Nothing more than a pathetic at tempt to fool the viewing public that good old diversity is truly working and we are all living the paradise of good will and human understanding. Well I’m sorry, I maintain that truth in these matters, however hard it is to bear, is the only real pathway to the peaceful resolution most of us truly do crave. And for those who would rather not hear the truth, I leave you with an ominous reflection of the great George Orwell, who wrote. ‘The further society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it’! And ain’t that the truth. 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/NEWS
Bank telephone scam
TAKE HEED: Don’t discuss personal matters.
A SOCIAL media alert from a resident in Spain about a recent phone call from someone claiming to be from their bank set off alarm bells. In this case, the call dis play made it actually ap pear that it had come from a bank and the person call ing said that they had de tected an attempt to with draw money from a cash machine using the individu al’s details. The whole point of the exercise was to obtain con fidential information which will allow them to access your account and of course if you have given this volun tarily there is a chance that your bank will decline to re fund any money stolen, so
Image: Atlantic Wreck Divers / Facebook
16 EWN 7 - 13 December 2023
take heed. A British based organisa tion UK Finance confirms that individuals may receive an automated call claiming a suspicious transaction has occurred on their account. The consumer is then in vited to press a number on their phone to go through to a supposed agent who is in fact a fraudster. The fact is that no bank will ever contact you asking for your online banking password, your four digit pin number or insist you transfer money to a new account to avoid fraud. The best advice is to sim ply refuse to discuss person al matters with anyone who might call you unex pectedly and hang up.
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23
20 EWN 7 - 13 December 2023
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FEATURE
COMMUNITY
COMMENTS
THIS past week, food has caught the imagination of readers of Euro Weekly News and the two hot topics were the launch of the new M&S Spanish Chorizo Paella Croquetas and the love that readers seem to have for Spanish Christmas favourite Roscón de Reyes. Some of the comments on the croquetas veered back to Jamie Oliver and his proposed use of chorizo in paella and the outcry from Spanish food writers decrying it and a selection follows;
“
Oh yes they are right up my street!! Samantha Idle
Firstly there is no potato in a croquette. It's just a bechamel, thick and creamy. All M&S are doing is making a chorizo croqueta (not uncommon these days in modern bars) more cheaply by padding it out with rice. I won't be rushing to try it.
I've never heard of, or seen or tasted this concocted dish in Spain. But if people buy it and like it, then good luck to them. What's the Spanish equivalent of Delhi Belly? Kevin Barber
Chorizo Paella what is that?? Can't beat a proper Paella, I will not forsake my home country's national dish Kathy Hyett
Liz Kirkham
Looks good to me. Teresa Tracy Ramsey
Well. The jury is out here. Not sure of the combination, but I love paella and I love croquetas. But it does feel a bit disrespectful. Still Fusion food is a thing. Roisin Maire Stephenson
I t's really a simple wording mistake by them. Don't write Spanish on them. They don't make that flavour here, so it's not Spanish. Maybe it's Spanish ingredients.
Paella can have anything in it, it is a working man's dish, made with whatever is to hand. Sometimes just vegetables, just fish, in the hills they use squirrel, up until about 25 years ago they sold skinned rats in some carniceros, for paella. Rabbit is also very common... there is more than one recipe. Alex Murdoch
What on earth is a chorizo paella anyway. A complete mystery here in Mallorca. No doubt the same in Spain. Ridiculous! Charmaine Mockett
Hand made in Spain? Where in Spain would they make this rubbish.
Let’s be honest, most Spanish food is not that great. I truly believe it too highly overrated and I genuinely mean that. So I will try the M&S dish because it cannot be worse than I get in some local restaurants around the Orihuela Costa.
Doug Haynes
Mike George
Gordon O'Keeffe
Sounds good to me. Sue Peers
What a load of crap! That is not Spanish cuisine just another abuse of traditional food from another country that's full of crap! Why don't they promote healthy food? And the benefits of the Mediterranean diet! Christina Ford
Thirty plus years in Spain, eaten with numerous Spanish families and never had paella that includes chorizo. First time I saw paella con chorizo was the food mishandler, Jamie Oliver. No. Alan
Turning to the Christmas delicacy, readers seemed to be in almost complete agreement; I loved both Christmas, and the cake. Heath Savage
Don't worry Spain, it shall not pass my lips! Stevie Rayner
I'm definitely the grinch, I hate Christmas Nigel Springall
As an ex M&S man, now living in Mojacar, I think they look brilliant. Gerry Diamond
Love it. Always go to our Spanish neighbours. Hopefully I get the king. Not the bean! Lol. Sheila Hounslow
Comments should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.
FEATURE
euroweeklynews.com
7 - 13 December 2023
EWN 21
INTERVIEW
Catch up with Jesse Meester WHAT does one do when they see a famous face casually walking across the street from them? Shout their name loudly at them of course (as if they didn’t already know it) and take a selfie to post on Instagram to prove it to your friends! THAT was the story of how this good ‘tapear’. Next question, Euro Weekly News reporter do you prefer swimming in first met actor Jesse Meester, the pool or the sea? who is originally from the I am a sea kind of guy. Netherlands. He explained The salt is great for the at the time that he had reskin too. Even now, in cently moved to the sunshine the winter, it’s an unCredit: Jesse Meester coast and purchased a propermatched feeling of freeJesse in Estepona. ty in Estepona. One year later dom in swimming in the vast EWN caught up with Jesse again sea. Like a wild merman with to see how the move from Amsterdam to no limits! Cute. So aside from the all Marbella is unfolding for him. year round swimming weather, what is the Hello again Jesse! So, what attracted you main difference between the Netherlands specifically to the Costa Del Sol? and Spain? Climate, culture, pace of life, and Marbella is quite unique in its fusion of lux- even the architecture are starkly different. ury and culture. Its stunning coastline, vibrant The Netherlands might be more known for lifestyle, golf courses and historical charm its bicycle-friendly cities (oh boy I miss that), make it the place to be. Now Malaga just while Spain has a deeply ingrained laid-back turned out to be the best city to live in, in the culture with a love for fiestas and leisurely world that is, did you know? siestas - haha. Got to love the siestas! So We did see that actually! So, what is your Jesse, lastly, but definitely not least(ly), Dutch opinion on Spanish food? girls or Spanish girls? Spanish cuisine is amazing! From paella to Well, both are wonderful in their own tapas, the rich flavours and fresh ingredients ways. Dutch girls might be more straightformake dining an absolute delight. I love eating ward and open, while Spanish girls are light in the evening with just a few tapas. known for their passion and warmth. Beauty Yes, we agree with you there, EWN loves a truly lies in the eye of the beholder, doesn’t it?
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22
PETS
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Love signs CATS, often perceived as mys terious and aloof, actually have their unique ways of showing affection. Here are some signs: 1. Purring: Is a sign of con tentment and affection. 2. HeadButting: Cats share their scent as a mark of trust and love. 3. Following You Around: A sign they enjoy your compa ny. 4. Bringing Gifts: Is a sign of affection and showing off their hunting skills. 5. Slow Blinking: The cat equivalent of a kiss. It shows they feel safe and fond of you. 6. Sleeping on You: Means they trust you and feel safest in your presence. 7. Showing Their Belly: Their most vulnerable spot. It’s a sign of trust. 8. Grooming You: If your cat licks you, it’s a sign of deep af fection. 9. Kneading: Kneading with their paws on you is a com forting behaviour that origi nates from kittenhood.
Jake loves a dog-sitter playmate for free THERE are some dogs who, no matter how old they get, love to play and play and play. Meet Jake, he is one such dog and despite his 12 years he needs and loves a playmate. All the fun and frolics keep his owners fit. And when they travel on holiday they find dog sitters on HouseSitMatch. But they must be fit and active to keep up with Jake! The petsitters come for free! If you’re planning a trip in 2024 regis ter 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 sit ters come for free! Choose Housesitmatch. com for affordable trav el, home and pet care. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on
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Pets are living longer THE longevity of our beloved pets has significant ly increased over recent years. Various factors con tribute to this trend, ensur ing a longer and healthier life for our animal compan ions. 1. Advanced Veterinary Care: Veterinary medicine has made leaps in progress, offering treatments for ail ments that were once con sidered fatal. Preventive care, including vaccinations and regular health checks, plays a crucial role in ex tending pet lifespans. 2. Improved Nutrition: The quality of pet food has drastically improved. Now, pet foods are specially for mulated to meet nutritional needs at different life stages, contributing to overall health and longevity. 3. Awareness of Pet Health: Pet owners are now more knowledgeable about their pets’ health needs. This increased awareness leads to timely medical interven tion and better care at home.
VETERINARY CARE: Plays a crucial role in extending lifespans.
4. Indoor Living: More pets, especially cats, are liv ing indoors, protecting them from external threats like traffic, predators, and dis eases. 5. Spaying and Neutering: These procedures can pre vent diseases such as uter
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Dog finds happy home IN a surprising turn of events, a dog who unwit tingly became embroiled in a major drug smuggling op eration has found a new lease of life. In May of this year, Camila, a twoyearold dog, arrived at Heathrow Air port from Mexico with her Mexican owner. Staff at the Animal Air care Reception Centre grew suspicious when they noticed how Camila’s crate was excessively heavy and had unusual dimensions, along with a strong odour of paint stripper. Their investigation re vealed 10 onekilo blocks of cocaine cunningly con cealed within a false base of the crate. This discovery led to the involvement of Border Force and the Na tional Crime Agency (NCA). The owner was appre hended when he came to collect Camila. He initially claimed to have adopted the dog from a Mexican rescue centre. However, the NCA’s in vestigation uncovered glar ing inconsistencies in his story, including over £3,000 spent on shipping the dog without booking a return trip. He later confessed to importing class A drugs, worth £800,000 into the UK, and was sent to prison. Since her arrival, Camila has been under the care of the reception centre’s staff. Darren Barr, NCA senior manager, said: ‘This story now has a happier ending for Camila, who will spend the rest of her life in a hap py home.” The head of Animal Wel fare at LHR, Jake Holliday, said: “We decided to foster Camila while the NCA in vestigation was ongoing to ensure she was given the love she deserved. It be came apparent she was a friendly, affectionate girl. Now it’s been confirmed Camila can go home with one of our animal welfare officers, who she adores.’”
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BLINDS
24 EWN 7 - 13 December 2023
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THE Spanish cycling world mourns the sudden passing of Jorge Martin Mon tenegro. At just 40 years old, the ac claimed cyclist was found dead at his home. Martin, an Argentine native who had made Spain his home, was a celebrated figure in cycling. He tragically passed away on November 26, leaving a legacy marked by significant achievements in both the professional and Elite cate gories. Notably, Martin had been part of the 2010 Vuelta a España with AndaluciaCa ja Sur and was actively competing with CC Padrones Cortizo at the time of his passing. Martin’s journey in cycling began in 2005, making an immediate impact by winning the Argentine U23 champi onship. He soon transitioned to Euro pean circuits, showcasing his talent in various races, including the Vuelta a León and Tarragona. His move to the AndaluciaCaja Sur team in 2010 marked his debut in the prestigious Vuelta a España. His career continued to flourish with victories like the Spanish Cup and the 2016 Spanish Elite Road Cycling Championship. Even in recent years, Martin remained a
formidable competitor in the Elite cate gory. The cycling community has expressed its deep sorrow over Martin’s untimely death. The official account of the classic Caja Rural de Zamora shared a heartfelt tribute on social media: ‘We are very sor ry for the loss of the cyclist Jorge Martin Montenegro who said goodbye to us at only 40 years old. ‘The SpanishArgentine was the win ner of our race in 2016 and second in 2012. A huge and heartfelt hug from Zamora to all his family and friends. D.E.P.’ Similarly, the Galician Cycling Federa tion extended its condolences, highlight ing Martin’s significant contributions: ‘The Galician Cycling Federation (FCG) wants to convey its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jorge Martin Montenegro, who died at the age of 40. ‘The Argentinian rider was closely linked to our community, defending the colours of PadronesCortizo from 2015 to 2021 and those of RetelecTeam Cycling Galicia in 2022.’ Martin’s legacy will be remembered for his extraordinary talent and the sig nificant impact he made on the world of cycling.
THE Gold Coast has official ly withdrawn its bid to host the upcoming Common wealth Games, outing an end to any remaining prospects of the event tak ing place in Australia. Although the coastal city successfully hosted the Games in 2018, Mayor Tom Tate’s unilateral insistence on a repeat, faced staunch opposition from federal and state governments, as well as his own deputy mayor. The reluctance to support the event has thrown the possibility of the Games into uncertain ty, with organisers contem plating postponement or cancellation. The Commonwealth
Credit: Shutterstock/ zstock
Commonwealth Games bid
The Gold Coast, Australia.
Games, a quadrennial mul tisport event, has only been cancelled previously during the Second World War. Participation is limit ed to athletes from over 70 nations or territories, many of which were former parts of the British Empire. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to secure a host for the 2026 Games until Victoria volunteered. However, a month after Victoria’s with drawal, the sole contender
for the 2030 Games, the Canadian province of Al berta, also abandoned its hosting plans. Currently, there are no firm bids for either the 2026 or 2030 Games. Gov ernments cite escalating costs, while experts argue that the event’s global standing and perceived rel evance are diminishing. Mayor Tate proposed a ‘streamlined’ version of the Games, with the potential to share it with Perth, six
hours away by flight. De spite support from Aus tralian billionaires and ath letes, the plan failed to sway the Queensland or federal governments. Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) expressed understanding for the deci sion and is actively seeking alternative solutions for athletes in Australia and the Pacific. Conversations are ongoing on multiple continents to salvage the event.
Rafa returns Credit : Shutterstock/ Leonard Zhukovsky
Spain mourns cyclist
FANS of Rafael Nadal won’t have to wait for too long to see him in action as the Spanish tennis star gears up for his comeback. On Friday, December 1, Rafa Nadal took to the social media platform Twitter/X to announce his return to pro fessional competition: ‘Hello everyone, after a year out of competition, the time has come to return. It will be in Brisbane and it will be in the first week of January. I’ll see you there.’ The event marks his first official match after a year out of competition due to injury. Following a hip surgery on June 2, just a day before his 37th birthday, Nadal has been absent from the profes sional scene. The surgery co incided with the Roland Gar ros tournament, a contest he has dominated 14 times. Since October last year, Nadal has been in regular training, preparing for his re turn. His announcement ends months of speculation about his comeback. Nadal’s participation in the upcoming Australian Open, scheduled from January 14 to 28, 2024, is also con
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RAFAEL NADAL: Gearing up for his comeback.
firmed. This major event will be a critical test for Nadal, who currently ranks 663 in the ATP. This ranking means he won’t be among the 32 seeds, potentially setting up an early clash with longtime rival Novak Djokovic, who has expressed excitement about Nadal’s return. Nadal’s schedule also high lights the French Open and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, hosted at Roland Garros from July 27 to Au gust 4. These events remain
significant goals for the 22 time major champion. Meanwhile, the Brisbane tournament, returning after a hiatus since 2019, will see the participation of top play ers like Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, and Andy Murray. Rafael Nadal’s return to the tennis courts is a highly anticipated event for fans and fellow players alike. His journey to recovery and the challenges that lie ahead in the upcoming tournaments should prove to be a high light for all tennis fans.
Winter Olympics THE French Alps and Salt Lake City in the US were confirmed respectively on Wednesday, November 29, as the sole candidates for the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games. Karl Stoss, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) future host commission, said Olympic chiefs would now move into ‘targeted dia logue’ with the two candi dates. ‘The IOC will now start more detailed discussions with the Preferred Hosts, led by their National Olympic Committees (NOCs), with the aim of awarding both editions at the 142nd IOC Session in July in Paris,’ the IOC said in a statement. Wednesday’s decision was announced at the ex pense of Sweden and Switzerland, the two other candidates. Salt Lake City was the only candidate to launch a bid to host the 2034 Games.
Last month, the IOC said that it was aiming to make a double award by picking the 2030 and 2034 hosts together in July when about 100 members meet in Paris on the eve of the 2024 Summer Games. That plan could now change to avoid a conflict for IOC members to have to vote for a French bid in its capital city. France has hosted the Winter Games on three previous occasions. Cha monix was the location in 1924, Grenoble in 1968, and Albertville in 1992. Salt Lake City previously hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. The French bid for the 2030 Games is based around the resorts of Meribel, Courchevel and Val d’Isere for alpine skiing while La Clusaz would host the Nordic events. Skating events would take place in the Mediterranean city of Nice, which would also act as the Olympic Village.