Axarquia 28 Nov - 4 Dec 2024 Issue 2056

Axarquia’s beach makeover

€2m revamp for Malaga’s beaches

Johanna Gardener

AN exciting new government investment promises to bring a shimmeringly spanking new look to some of Malaga’s beaches - speci cally those on the Axarquía coast. An eye-popping amount will be destined to improve the coastlines of Rincon de la Victoria, Velez-Malaga, Algarrobo, Torrox and Nerja.

This past week, the government has already started work on maintenance and improvement work on the beaches along the whole coastline of Malaga totalling over €2 million. It will be divided into two investments for the western coastline covering Manilva, Casares, Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos, and the eastern coastline, including the municipalities of Ma-

laga, Rincon de la Victoria, Velez-Málaga, Algarrobo, Torrox and Nerja. According to the government’s deputy representative in Malaga, Javier Salas, this represents a “a record budgetary e ort by the government of Spain in the province of Malaga through the two largest maintenance and improvement contracts for our coastline

in its history.”

The investment will sprinkle magic on these beaches, to be in top-notch condition for citizen and tourist use. Some of the plans currently in the pipeline include sand compensation and sand distribution.

Improvements made will be consistently in-line with maintaining the en-

vironmental legacy of the landscape and promise to regenerate and stabilise the coastlines using only natural and local materials. The investment is a promising step alongside others in the region towards enhancing tourism and the lives of local residents, who should be proud of their local beaches.

United for Dana

IT’S been two weeks since the heavens opened in Comares and the DANA brought ooding to the region. For some, it’s a memory, yet solidarity e orts in the clean-up operation have been nonstop.

The ‘Balcony of Axarquia,’ is still caked in mud, yet remains the axis, where hands-on help, generosity and resilience join forces. Red Cross troops, organisations and Malaga volunteers have been pitching in, working tirelessly to clear mud and debris. There is light at the end of the tunnel as substan-

tial work has been done, but this doesn’t mean that these exceptional volun-

teers have taken their foot o the pedal.

Since the ooding, and alongside the town council, volunteers have been shining examples of stellar e orts to remove mud from garages, homes and public spaces.

In Comares, cooperation and gratitude stand out - it works both ways. Residents and the mayor have ‘expressed gratitude on behalf of the entire town.’

Fair play, Comares: tireless spirit; uniting community!”

Colourful Christmas countdown

TORRE DEL MAR is feeling festive, as it announced its jam-packed Christmas line-up for 2024. Saturday November 30 sees the town’s festive celebrations kick off.

To light the way for the Christmas countdown, Torre del Mar will see its annual Christmas illuminations switch-on at 6pm (Plaza de la Axarquia) and the amusement park (Plaza Juan Aguilar) will open its doors daily from 4.30pm. Torre del Mar is embracing its inclusive community spirit with a music-free hour from 4.30pm - 5.30pm every day for children with autism spectrum disorder. Christmas cheer continues at 7pm with the Christmas tree illuminations in Plaza Juan Aguilar. Not to mention the music concerts, the food-filled extravaganza of sumptuous chocolate and sugary buñuelos or visits from the Santa Claus parade and Royal Postman.

Don’t miss Torre del Mar’s spectacular festive celebrations!

Torrox beach will be one of several to receive a makeover.

Credit:Shutterstock:Agata Ibron

The Red Cross and other organisations have worked tirelessly in Comares.

Frigiliana’s cat thieves Book your beach spot

A PECULIAR case of feline thievery has had everybody boggled in Frigiliana. The case of the pilfering pets may sound like something out of a children’s book, but the three cats, Dora and her two offspring, Daisy and Manchita have been helping themselves to bits and bobs around the town.

The three cats, owned by Rachel a local resident have been busy, getting their paws on items of clothing - mainly underwear - from washing lines, much to the horror of unbeknown neighbours. Not only have these felines gained notoriety for their criminal thieving but they have become stars at the centre of an international research project, investigating why cats steal things

and bring gifts to their owners. They have also been modelling for photographs by Dutch artist, Anne Geene, a friend of Rachel’s, whose work is contributing to the global study on cat behaviour.

During the October Art Walk in the town, Geene held an exhibition showing photographs of the stolen items, with partial success. Anne and Rachel are looking for new

Credit:Instagram:@anne-geene

ways to return stolen belongings via social media, posters or more exhibitions where Anne can also promote her books. Until then, their furry friends will continue to cause more havoc and embarrassment.

The Frigiliana felines now feature alongside other other international cat thieves in science journals and have even made headlines across Europe.

THINKING about next summer? Rincon de la Victoria is already getting ahead of itself and has widened the deadline for requests for use of the beach or its promenade. Those who wish to reserve spaces for kiosk services, terraces, hammocks, ‘espeto’ (flamed fish) stands, children’s play equipment or water sports must apply before November 30.

sandy beach included in the 2025 Season Beach Use Plan. Seasons run from June to September, May and October, the months of March, April and November, December 2025 and even for January and February 2026. Plans sound promising but early applications are essential to early to ensure smooth beach management, especially during peak season.

Maximum dimensions for reservations are:

• Kiosk (maximum 20 square metres)

For all removable services and activities to be used on the beaches of Rincon de la Victoria in 2025, applicants must submit the completed form in person to the town hall Entry Registry or online via the web page sede.rincon delavictoria.es

The Local Beach councillor, Sergio Díaz, stressed that anybody can take advantage of the ample space between the shore and the wall along 8km of

• Terrace (maximum 70 square metres)

• Hammocks (6 square metres)

• Espeto stands (12 square metres)

• Non-motorised nautical uses, motorised and children’s play (Non-specific)

Don’t forget to attach a scaled site plan indicating the location and layout. Then sit back, and wait for your approval heads up for 2025!

Anne Geene hangs photos of ‘cat-nicked’ belongings along with own art.

Book now to reserve your space on Rincon de la Victoria beach for 2025.

Credit:Shutterstock:Lux Blue

Spain tightens grip on squatters

“New

crackdown sparks national debate”

SQUATTERS beware. Spain’s Congress has just dropped a legislative bombshell that promises to evict ‘okupas’ faster than you can say ‘desalojo’. In a move that’s sparking heated debate across the country, the newly approved ‘anti-okupas’ law aims to slash eviction times from months to mere hours.

This sweeping reform, which has already passed through Congress, now heads to the Senate for its final seal of approval. Once it lands in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), it’s game over for squatters.

Spain’s Congress saw unexpected alliances and embarrassing mishaps during the vote. The contro versial reform, backed by the PNV, won support from unlikely allies including PP, Junts, and even Bildu and ERC - though the latter two admitted their ‘inexcusa ble error’ in supporting it.

On the other side, PSOE, Sumar, Podemos, and BNG voted against allowing property owners to quickly evict illegal squatters, while Vox sat firmly on the fence with an abstention. With the PP holding a Senate majority, all signs point to smooth sailing for final approval.

The reform targets articles 245 and 202 of the Penal Code, making squatting a fast-track offence. Usurpation and unlawful entry will now be dealt with in

‘Adiós’ squatters: Thanks for the memories.

expedited trials - think eviction in 15 days or less. No more standard trials dragging on for months; it’s all about swift justice.

But, where will all these people go? Sure, some will be forced to do the unthinkable and actually pay for rent, but the truly vulnerable may be left exposed. Is it time for more social housing in Spain?

Growing concerns over public healthcare

NEGOTIATIONS over the contract to provide private medical insurance to some 1.5 million civil servants have not reached a positive outcome.

Therefore, it would appear that these workers are likely to be absorbed into the public health service over nine months following the end of their current insurance agreement in February 2025.

However, many doctors and nurses have raised concerns about the transfer of the Muface patients and the impact this is anticipated to have on current waiting lists. For example, Jose Polo, a family doctor and president of the Spanish Society for Primary Care

Doctors expressed: “There are provincial capitals or certain health centres, where there are already waiting lists for a certain number of patients and number

of professionals assigned to that centre. But if all of a sudden 5,000 or 3,000 more patients are added, we will have to calculate what that distribution is like or if there is a possibility of increasing staff.” Indeed, while it is estimated this number of additional people is a ‘reasonable’ increase of around 2.1 per cent, IDIS, the private health employers’ association, argues this volume of private patients “reduces the pressure on care in the public sector and avoids the increase in waiting lists for outpatient consultations by 266 per cent, surgical consultations by 115 per cent, and more than five million visits in Primary Care.”

However, the government’s lack of agreement with the three current service providers has left it having to consider the very real possibility of incorporating the mutual society population into public health care.

Tourist flats face extinction

AIRBNB have slammed Barcelona’s plans to axe tourist apartments by 2028, urging the city council to ‘rethink’ its restrictions. The holiday rental juggernaut made its fiery plea in a letter to Mayor Jaume Collboni, marking the 10th anniversary of the city’s moratorium on new licences for short-term lets.

The online platform didn’t hold back, branding the decade-old rules ‘ineffective’. Airbnb claims the measures have done little to solve Barcelona’s housing crisis or curb mass tourism. Instead, it accused the hotel industry of inflating prices to record highs while thousands of tourist flats sit in regulatory limbo.

The latest plan would see licences for over 10,000 tourist apartments in Barcelona disappear by the year 2028. The goal is to turn them into much-needed homes for local residents.

But Airbnb isn’t buying it. The rental giant hit back, pointing out what it called a glaring contradiction: while the city vows to crack down on mass tourism, it’s also eyeing up space for 5,000 shiny new hotel rooms.

Airbnb says it’s played by the rules, boasting that it has scrubbed over 7,000 illegal listings since 2018. However, the platform insists that Barcelona’s approach is all wrong. In their letter, they claim that what’s needed are ‘real solutions to the housing and tourism problem’, adding that its service supports thousands of locals who rely on extra income from letting out their homes.

This battle is far from over, and it could be a ‘dress rehearsal’ for what will unfold in the rest of Spain.

New driving rules introduced to curb rising accident rates

THE DGT is making some changes to driving rules in response to accidents and other issues that have been of concern for some time.

Under the new code regarding the use of lanes on highways and motorways, which will apply to all types of vehicles in situations of high congestion or adverse weather conditions, there will be two notable differences.

One point to be added to Article 31 of the General Traffic Regulations is that drivers will be prohibited from overtaking in heavy rain. All drivers will be expected to moderate their speed and occupy only the right-hand lane while maintaining a good distance from the

vehicle in front.

Another rule will be allowing access to emergency vehicles in slow or stopped traffic. Often a road accident will provoke tailbacks as drivers optimistically try to speed up their passage by zig-zagging from lane to lane. From 2025, this will no longer be permitted, and in the case of two and three-lane motorways that are jammed, the left lane must be kept empty in order to facilitate access by emergency vehicles.

Some good news for motorcyclists, however, is that in the event of stopped traffic on a motorway, motorcycles will be permitted to use the hard shoulder to overtake at a maximum of 30 kph.

Spain’s public health service could be under strain from 2025.

Credit: Shutterstock, sangriana

Festive December escapes Unity against violence

VELEZ-MALAGA has included its youngest and dearest in the international fight against gender violence. As part of a nationwide collaborative effort to show so -

lidarity for the cause, there have been numerous initiatives taking place across the Axarquia region, many of which have involved performances, workshops and activities for

school children.

On Monday November 25, more than 2,000 of Velez-Malaga’s schoolchildren made a stand on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in a march against sexist violence.

It took place from the Social Affairs (Asuntos Sociales) building up to the Paseo de Andalucia, where the children heard the reading of the manifesto in rejection of gender violence.

This was a positive reminder of the importance of education in tackling social issues from a young age and turned out to be a productive and meaningful day with all children full involved and integrated in the event. Many carried posters and banners or were wearing the symbolic purple tie or ribbon.

GOOD news for all travel enthusiasts hailing from Torre del Mar. Lux Mundi is excited to present its agenda of exciting excursions for December.

Lux Mundi are inviting cultural enthusiasts and festive friends to visit Sevilla.

The trip will take place from Tuesday, December 10, to Thursday, December 12, offering the opportunity to admire the breathtaking Christmas decorations in the heart of Andalucia’s capital city. Enjoy three days of fun staying at the three-star Hotel Alcazar, on a bed and breakfast basis. Visit the lights, Nativity scenes, Christmas markets, the Cathedral, Alcazar and various places of interest. Going and returning will include a 30-minute stop and the journey will end on Thursday at 7pm in Torre del Mar.

Sevilla is one of the exciting festive excursions scheduled for this December .

Tickets available at the Lux Mundi Centre.

Price: Double/twin room:€200-225 per person. Single room €270-295

Basic travel insurance included.

Departure times: Algarobbo (Lidl) 08.45, Caleta (Vets) 08.50, Torre del Mar (Bus station) 09.00.

If you prefer a local day trip, Lux Mundi invite you to see the Malaga Christmas illuminations on Wednesday December 18. Spend an interesting evening with friends discovering the nativities and watching the wonderful Christmas lights displays set to music. There will be time for refreshments before the return journey at 22.30.

Tickets available at the Lux Mundi Centre.

Price: €15-18.

Departure times: Algarrobo (Lidl) 16.45, Caleta (Vets) 16.50, Torre del Mar (Bus station) 17.00. Enjoy your trip!

Gastronomy award

STEP back food connoisseurs and welcome to the stage, Lacaliza Restaurant in Rincon de la Victoria. This local gastronomical masterpiece has just been awarded the National Golden Plate Gastronomy Award in Valencia and looks to be setting the trend for culinary excellence.

Lacaliza is a delightful venue just opposite the beautiful, Cueva del Tesoro, and is spread over three floors with capacity for a whopping 1,100 people. The foodie hotspot has already won several awards for sustainability and tourist development. Now the prestigious food award has garlanded the restaurant for its ongoing customer satisfaction, unbeatable atmosphere and of course, top-quality cuisine.

Óscar Delgado, joint owner of the restaurant with his wife, Conchi García pride themselves on sourcing the best raw

materials for unique taste experiences. It boasts sumptuous specialitiesespecially its meat dishes, paella and the infamous cachopo (deep fried beef wrapped in cheese and Spanish ham).

Lacaliza has defined itself as “a social club, a meeting point and a reference place in the Malaga hospitality industry.” It flaunts three terraces, a cafeteria, a cocktail lounge with professional mi-

xologists and a children’s area - not to mention its plans for expansion!

Delgado describes how success been due to hard work but is confident as “more clients come every day,” with 120,000 making reservations so far in 2024. Not only that, but its location has been strategically chosen for its impressive sunsets.

Well-deserved award for a restaurant well-worth dining in!

Torre del Mar Castle

THE Ministry of Industry and Tourism is pleased to announce that more than €1 million will be invested in rehabilitating and restoring the Torre del Mar Castle. This is exciting news as the enhancement not only of the castle, but also of its surroundings will add a promising asset to the area. It is part of a bigger plan for business and employment, which aims to dynamise historical heritage for tourist use.

Delegate for tourist promotion in the area, Jesús Carlos Pérez Atencia emphasized that the town of Torre del Mar had a rich history and heritage, which must be valued and preserved. The castle has had enviable importance and significance over the years, for which it is only fitting that such a large quantity of money should be invested in showcasing its legacy. For now, this is the only project to have been approved out of the 16 presented from

Malaga, from an overall nationwide total of 89 grants.

The plans to make Torre del Mar Castle an important tourist and cultural reference on the Costa del Sol include promoting archaeological studies, excavations and restoration works. New signage will mark it as a cultural and

historical heritage landmark and it is set to be turned into a museum.

Needless to say, this will boost the economy of the area, enhance its regional and national renown and provide employment opportunities, placing Torre de Mar more firmly on the map.

The Castle at Torre del Mar will be renovated to former glory for tourism.

Cachopo is one of the signature dishes at awardwinning Lacaliza Restaurant.

Gelato glory here!

Johanna Gardener

NEARLY everybody loves a good ice-cream and the beauty of living in southern Spain is that you can enjoy one all-year-round. But in Torre del Mar, residents are just that bit luckier. They have a master ice-cream maker on their doorstep and finalist in the gladiator of ice cream competitions: the Italian Cup, held in Rome.

Juanma Guerrero, the face behind the accolade

has already been awarded Cavaliere del Gelato by the Italian Association of Ice Cream Makers in December 2023. Just under a year later and his ice creams are in line to be among the best in the world. For Guerrero, “ice cream is not only a dessert: it is an art,” and this art is on sweet display at the Sicilia Gelati ice cream parlour on Paseo de Larios in Torre del Mar. Guerrero commented: “It is really

exciting to be able to represent Torre del Mar and all of Axarquia in this final alongside the best in the world.” Guerrero prides himself on his 100 per cent natural ingredients for an authentic Italian product. If you’re the chocolatey type, look no further. Guerrero shot up the charts for being one of the 10 best Italian masters for chocolate ice cream! Open until end December!

Water for two years

THE tables have turned in what was predicted to be a year of water restrictions thanks to recent rainfall and the drought-stricken Malaga Province reservoir gaining 50 per cent in a week. La Viñuela, Axarquia currently holds three times more water than 2023 - excellent news for agriculture and residents.

Looking back to a grim picture last year, where the government had to install pumps to extract the last drops, this year is painting a more promising picture. La Viñuela reservoir in the Axarquia area, east of Malaga Province has been a testimony to the province’s drought for almost six years. It has not fully recuperated but is in a far better position and has undergone a dramatic change since the DANA. Now, places like

Velez-Malaga will not have to face nightly water restrictions and can enjoy normalised water supply for up to two years. Flooding was particularly pertinent in the Axarquia. Both rivers - Velez and Benamargosa - burst their banks. The silver lining is that la Viñuela is benefiting from runoff water boosting water levels to 36 hm3m - almost overtaking La Concepción (between Marbella and Iztan), the record water storer for Malaga Province. La Viñuela - the province’s largest reservoir - is seeing optimum levels not seen in years, albeit not at full capacity. Water for agriculture was being imported but since the two consecutive DANAs, the province’s reservoirs have recuperated from the summer and are overall at 28 per cent capacity.

Sicilia Gelati’s award-winning ice-creams in Torre del Mar.

La Viñuela reservoir currently holds three times more water than last year.

Swedish Eurovision

singer’s Brexit fury

THE fallout of Brexit continues to impact British expats in Europe, with a high-profile case in Sweden drawing attention to the struggles faced by UK nationals. Kenny Solomons, married to Swedish Eurovision singer Tess Merkel Solomons, has lived in Sweden since 2012. Despite his integration into Swedish society – speaking the language, paying taxes, and employing locals – his residency application was rejected in 2023 for missing the post-Brexit application deadline.

Kenny and Tess are now forced to live apart, a situation Tess describes as “absolutely disgusting” and “beyond belief.” She criticised Swedish authorities for not issuing clear warnings about the residency process. Kenny, who has

returned to the UK, fears even visiting his family could result in a two-year entry ban. “I’m told there’s zero chance of living with my wife and kids in Sweden again,” he said. Their case isn’t unique. According to the Facebook group ‘Brits in Sweden’, no late post-Brexit residency applications have been approved. Sweden’s migration agen-

cy confirmed processing 452 late applications, with only 45 approvals this year.

The UK Foreign Office has raised the issue with Sweden and the EU, calling for fair treatment of British expats. Brits in Sweden are urged to review their residency status and seek legal advice if facing similar challenges.

Women-only taxi service

A GROUNDBREAKING new platform, Pinker, is set to launch in Portugal, offering women-only taxi services with female drivers. Created by Mónica Faneco, Pinker aims to provide a safer and more comfortable travel option for women.

“We want to bring safety and confidence to women in our services,” Faneco told Lusa.

Initially operating in Lisbon, the service plans to expand to Porto and beyond, with over 1,000 women already pre-registered as drivers. Developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Pinker is entirely Portuguese and has received positive feedback from both women and men.

“Men tell me it’s an excellent alternative for their daughters and wives,” Faneco said.

Licensed in Portugal and Europe, Pinker enters a market dominated by Uber and Bolt. However, its launch highlights a significant societal issue: women’s safety concerns when travelling alone.

Reports of sexual offenses in taxis, such as 182 incidents

in London in 2021 and thousands recorded by Uber in the US, highlight the need for safer travel options.

While services like Pinker address an urgent problem, broader changes, including stricter driver checks and

societal efforts to tackle gender-based violence, remain crucial.

The United Nations marked November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The married couple.

AXARQUÍA - MÁLAGA EAST

Festive Bingo

GET ready for a night of excitement at the Save a Life Rescue Bingo event, coming to Cerezo Bar in Canillas de Albaida on Wednesday, December 4 at 8pm! This year, the bingo fun includes not only the traditional games but also some special Christmas rounds to spread holiday cheer.

Every bingo winner will walk away with a prize, and bonus games will offer spot prizes, adding an extra thrill to the night. There’s also a festive ra-

ffle, so be sure to grab your ticket for a chance to win something special. Plus, for the first time this season, the 100 Numbers Board will make its debut!

In addition to the games, you’ll have the chance to pick up Save a Life Rescue t-shirts and 2025 calendars, perfect for gifting or treating yourself.

Tickets are just €2.50 each, and all proceeds go directly to animals in need. Hurry, tickets are limited, so WhatsApp 0034 711 07 78 30 now to reserve your spot!

Award-winning paella

Festive fundraiser

LOOKING for a festive way to help animals in need? The Under Dog, an animal rescue service devoted to helping overlooked and harder-to-place cats and dogs, is hosting a cosy Christmas evening to raise awareness and support for their furry friends.

promises a warm holiday atmosphere filled with twinkling fairy lights, festive music, and maybe even a few purrs! Meet some of The Under Dog’s adoptable cats and kittens and enjoy a relaxed evening knowing your support makes a difference.

DO you love Spanish paella? At Rincon de la Victoria’s award-winning restaurant Lacaliza, get your tastebuds ready for a rice experience of a lifetime every day until December 5 for a charitable €9.

The restaurant is the spectacular legacy of Oscar Delgado Vertedor who makes culinary magic thanks to his traditional roots of watching his mother cook mouth-watering rice on wood stoves. Having spent his childhood helping out at restaurants, he gained all of the cooking tips you could ever hope for and today works with a ‘nothing is impossible’ approach to add distinct flavour and class to some of the most flavoursome dishes in the region.

With rice being a clear winner at the restaurant, Lacaliza has once again

Credit:Facebook:@Lacaliza

opened its doors for a fixed period to offer a taste of its magic where diners can choose between mixed, Spanish ham, vegetarian or black paella.

The restaurant was recently awarded the National Gastronomy Award for the Radio Turismo Gold Plate. It offers traditional fare fused with modern touches including matured meats and select cuts and fresh fish. Lacaliza regularly organises promotional periods for its top speciality dishes including cachopo and meat, so watch this space! Oh, and be sure to indulge in one of the spectacular home-made desserts!

Lacaliza, Urb Cueva del Tesoro, 16, 29720 La Cala del Moral, Malaga Tel: 952 405 390 lacalizaeventos.com

Mark your calendars for Friday, December 13, from 6pm to 8pm at Parking El Llano, Carretera N340 km 267.2, no. 62 Almayate Bajo. With Christmas cake, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and soft drinks, this gathering

The event also features a charity shop open on-site, offering unique finds that make perfect gifts. For more details, give them a call on 711 031 414. Don’t miss out on this chance to help the animals find loving homes!

Competa’s Saturday Night Fever

BOOGIE on down to Competa on Saturday, November 30 to experience a Saturday night fever you’ll never forget.

Yes, that’s right. La Carpinteria Bar in Competa is bringing one of the best nights of the year, complete with music, drinks and a fancy dress competition.

Get ready to strut your best dance moves with DJ Tim Spurrier and DJ set, Bixo and Nena. DJ Spurrier is renowned for his groovy fusion of funk, soul, jazz, R&B and reggae and is famed for his playlists which will leave you buzzing.

On Saturday, prepare yourselves and your dancing shoes for eclectic mix of disco fl avours and don’t forget to dress up in your best fancy dress outfi t to match that 70s, 80s feel.

Best fancy dress will

win a prize of €50. The night of feelgood partying will kick off at 8pm and there is no entry fee. Food and drinks available. See you there at La Carpinteria Bar, Avenida de la Constitución, 14, Competa!

Catherine McGeer

Image: Shutterstock/ shakim888

Image: Shutterstock/ javier rodriguez jimenez

Only one Kinder boy Dumping snow

MATTEO FARNETI, the face of Kinder between 2004 and 2019, nds himself compelled to reclaim his identity.

In an interview with Corriere di Bologna, the 31-yearold from Bologna expressed his indignation at having to repeatedly justify his identity as the blue-eyed boy featured on the packaging of Kinder chocolate bars.

The Bolognese model highlighted the controversy surrounding Alessandro Egger, a fellow model and actor who is currently a contestant on the Italian television show La Talpa. Egger posted a photo on Instagram of himself holding a Kinder chocolate bar bearing Farneti’s image. The post gained signi cant media attention, and Egger failed to deny the resulting assumptions he was the child on the packaging.

Farneti’s outrage is understandable. He contends that if others truly claim to be the ‘Kinder child,’ they should produce their own images rather than misusing his. Farneti has spoken out because he is weary of such misrepresentations, which have impacted not only his private life - where he has faced accusations of dishonesty - but also his professional life, as they undermine his credibility in other advertising campaigns similar to Kinder’s.

To prove his identity, Farneti shared a video on his Facebook page in which he is interviewed by Kinder Cioccolato, where he re ects on his experience as Kinder boy.

ONE thing that is certain is that if you live in Finland there will be plenty of snow falling during the winter season.

The main problem of snow that hasn’t melted is in the capital Helsinki and the city council has for years organised for the snow to be collected and dumped into the Baltic Sea.

According to reports, between 25 and 45 per cent of all snow collected from Helsinki roads are currently dumped into the sea around the area of Hernesaari which during the winter period sees some 230,000 cubic metres of snow being deposited.

If it was just snow, there wouldn’t be such a problem but when scraped from the roads, it includes gravel, general waste and even microplastic, all of which can create pollution.

The Finnish government has therefore come up with a plan that calls for the total banning of dumping of snow by March 2028 which has the council up in arms as the Helsinki Council called for

Why celebrate Thanksgiving?

BEHIND the face of the long-standing American custom is thankfulness, charity and family and behind every taste of turkey or piece of pumpkin pie is the true story of America.

the prohibition of dumping of the snow by 2033, a full five years later.

The problem is trying to work out where to put the snow that is cleared in order to allow traffic to flow smoothly and safely throughout the city.

One option is to dump it in parks across Helsinki but that certainly wouldn’t look attractive and another option is to simply let it pile up at the edge of roads, but that then narrows the space for vehicles and could be a potential problem for pedestrians.

Credit:Shutterstock: Victorian Traditions

Today, the festival is renowned for celebrating values of community and lending a hand to others - universal codes of conduct, tting for any culture. This is why the yearly event has spread globally, marking another important day on the calendar for Americans and non-Americans alike.

The story goes back to the 1600s when the Wampanoag (native Americans before the arrival of the Europeans) and Pilgrims (Pilgrim Fathers, many of whom were from the English Separatist Church) met at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 to commemorate a bountiful harvest. The three-day feast became known as the rst Thanksgiving, as it brought the new settlers and the native Americans together in a celebration of the new continent. However, despite the jovial occasion remaining in the memories of many, it was President Abraham Lincoln who formally declared Thanksgiving a national holiday - but not

Thanksgiving Day 2024 will be celebrated across the world this year on November 28.

until 1863, during the Civil War. It was set to fall on the nal Thursday in November and sparked the beginning of the Thanksgiving tradition as a national holiday for re ection and appreciation.

Across the world, the evening is characterised by the gathering of family and friends. Like all festivals, traditions can di er but on the centre table of all participating homes will be a Thanksgiving meal comprising roast turkey, stu ng, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes. And of course, for dessert, the quintessentially American pumpkin pie!

Snow ploughs could simply create huge piles at the edge of roads.

An expat guide on scattering ashes in Spain

AFTER losing a loved one, for many, scattering their ashes is a tender and meaningful way to honour their memory, say goodbye and find closure.

For expats living in Spain who are making funeral plans, it’s important to understand the legalities and cultural nuances of this heartfelt ritual. Should you wish to get cremated, you might have wishes in place of where your ashes will be scattered. However, your family and loved ones need to understand where in Spain they are allowed to scatter the ashes.

This straightforward yet sensitive guide is designed to help you understand the requirements and options for scattering ashes in Spain, allowing you to focus on planning a fond farewell.

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Spain?

In short, yes, it is legal to scatter ashes in Spain, but there are certain regulations in place to protect public spaces. Spain has guidelines about where ashes can and can’t be scattered, particularly in popular and protected areas. Before you scatter ashes, it’s es -

sential to seek permission from local authorities if you’re planning to scatter them in a public place, such as a park, beach or mountain.

Where can and can’t you scatter ashes in Spain?

- Beaches and coastal areas: Many people wish to scatter ashes along Spain’s scenic coastlines. Howe -

ver, permission from the local council is typically required. Ensure you contact the local town hall (ayuntamiento) in the area where you plan to scatter the ashes - they will inform you of the correct procedure.

- Mountains and countryside: The Spanish countryside and mountainous regions can provide a peaceful setting for scattering ashes. As with coastal areas, permission from local authorities is often needed. Nature reserves and historic sites may have restrictions, so check if a special permit is needed.

- Private property: Scattering ashes on private land is generally allowed, but always seek the property owner’s permission first.

The Spanish government places importance on preserving the natural beau -

ty of its public spaces, so please do not leave urns or other items behind. Be mindful that public beaches and parks are shared spaces, and scattering ashes discreetly is respectful to others.

How Compare Funerals Spain can help with scattering ashes

If you’re looking for guidance on scattering ashes in Spain, Compare Funerals Spain offers professional assistance.

They can help you understand local regulations and coordinate with authorities to make sure everything is handled respectfully and correctly. Their English-speaking team is knowledgeable about Spain’s regional requirements, making the process easier for you during a difficult time.

Your

VOICE

SPAIN HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER FOR EVERYONE.

Do you think Spain is the best country for tourists?

SPAIN has long been celebrated for its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and warm weather, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe each year. Whether you like busy, bustling cities or calm, serene beaches, Spain has something to offer for every traveller. For this reason, in 2023 alone, Spain welcomed over 85 million foreign visitors, and is already on track to break that record by the end of 2024.

Recently two Spanish villages were recognised among the World’s Best Tourism Villages 2024 by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This prestigious list highlights Ainsa, Huesca, and Mura, Barcelona, alongside other charming villages, as exceptional examples of sustainable and culturally rich tourism.

In order to create their list, the UNWTO evaluates nine key criteria, including tourism development, cultural and natural resources, and economic sustainability. But what really makes a country the perfect holiday destination? We asked our readers their thoughts, and whether they think Spain is the best country for tourists.

Angela Edgley, an ex-travel agent, says yes, citing a “massive choice of destinations... excellent choice of hotels or self-catering,” and “interesting excursions” as reasons, and adding that she later relocated here.

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ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS IN ENGLISH

Brian Clarke agrees, mentioning other factors such as “the best beer in the world” and “great historical sites.”

Karen Joy Harley is also of the view that Spain is a great country for tourists, making the strong comparison that “if the garden of Eden was a place on Earth today Spain would be it.”

On the other hand, Sheree Ruiz notes that there isn’t an objective way to answer this question, as “... no two people would agree on the order of a list of the best countries to visit,” raising the point that everyone has different likes and needs, and therefore different criteria for the best place to visit.

Other readers, such as Adda Macchich and Peter MacGregor are of the view that it is not possible to make this judgement unless you have “visited most of the world’s destinations.”

Among very few negative comments, Michael Whitwell mentions that the only negative for him is that “the airports are not prepared for the influx of people through border control,” which is certainly an inconvenience to tourists but also supports the idea of Spain’s popularity among visitors.

Overall, there seems to be a general agreement among our readers that, while it can be difficult to decide which is the best country of all for tourists, Spain undeniably has something to offer for everyone.

Person’s Night-time Assistance. 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.

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DENMARK

Above board

THE medicinal cannabis programme introduced as a pilot scheme in 2018 could be made permanent following its increased use for pain relief. The Interior and Health ministry said the government wanted patients to continue using medicinal cannabis without having to acquire it on the illegal market.

Bad vibes

FREJA KIRK, singer and an LGBT role model, met homophobic abuse when she performed at an Odense school where, amongst other things pupils called her a freak. “There was a bad vibe and bad energy among some of them,” the singer said afterwards. “It makes me disappointed and sad for young people.”

PORTUGAL

Filling up

THE six reservoirs and dams that provide the Algarve’s water were at 34 per cent capacity by November 18, following recent rainfall, Portugal’s Environment Agency (APA) said. Between them they hold approximately 154 cubic hectometres of water, which equates to 35 per cent of the needs of tourism and urban areas.

Homes needed

ONLY 4.1 per cent of the 6,446 Portuguese children who are in care live with foster families, and their ages generally range from newborns to nine-year-olds. The government now hopes to ‘make great strides’ in reducing the number of children of all ages in institutional care by finding more foster homes for them.

ITALY

No slowdown

FIFTY-ONE per cent of Italians told a survey by ANAS, which manages the country’s motorways and main roads that they did not believe driving over the speed limit was dangerous. ANAS chief executive Aldo Isi said these figures highlighted the need for more investment in road education and awareness.

Climate clues

ITALY came 43rd out of 63 countries on the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) presented at the COP29 Conference in Baku. This was better than last year when Italy was ranked 44th but despite a medium rating for greenhouse gas emissions, it lost out on renewable energy and climate policy.

EURO PRESS

SWEDEN

Speak up

LAID-OFF workers from the Northvolt plant that makes batteries for electric vehicles in Skelleftea are flocking to the free Swedish for Immigrants courses organised by the municipality. Many of those made redundant are immigrants now hoping to boost their chances of finding work by speaking better Swedish.

NORTHVOLT FACTORY: Mass layoffs as demand drops for EV batteries.

IRELAND FINLAND

Barely shaken

THE Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) registered a mild 1.6 earthquake northeast of Brandon (County Cork) at 5.50am on November 19. It was only one kilometre below the surface and some locals reported noting the tremor, which was described as ‘unusual’ for Co Cork where seismic activity is rare.

Jobs record

IRELAND’S employment figures are rising, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed, with 73 per cent of the 15 to 64 age group working in the third quarter of 2024. With approximately 2.8 million people in jobs, this was 1.1 percentage points more than during the same period in 2023, the CSO said.

Game on

THE video game industry in Finland has developed from a few small operators 30 years ago to a multimillion industry that is one of Europe’s largest. Figures from Statista Finland show that in 2019 the sector was worth $185.74 million (€177.1 million) but will soar 91 per cent to $356.49 million (€339.9 million) by 2029.

Game over

FINLAND has recorded its highest number of corporate bankruptcies so far this century, with 2,700 companies declaring themselves insolvent by the beginning of November and overtaking 2023’s record number of 2,681 bankruptcies. Small businesses that have a turnover of less than €199,000 were the most affected.

BELGIUM NETHERLANDS

Try again

THE Sint-Joost-ten-Node municipal elections on October 13 were declared invalid as the current mayor Emir Kir has been accused of electoral fraud. As proxy votes at two of the town’s 12 polling stations were untraceable and another 226 proxy forms had errors, it is likely voters will have to go to the polls once more.

Still there

A GOLD tooth, all that remains of Patrice Lumumba, was not stolen from his mausoleum in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital, as previously feared. Lumumba, assassinated by Katangan separatists in 1961, was responsible for transforming the Belgian Congo into an independent nation.

Not here

SPOT checks on 115,000 people by border police between January and the end of October this year prevented 497 illegal entries at frontier crossings with Germany and Belgium. An additional 628 people who were stopped in vehicles went on to request asylum in the Netherlands, police statistics revealed.

Out of order

NONE of the lifts at 10 of Amsterdam’s 38 metro stations are working and are now totally inaccessible to wheelchair users, according to the NH Niews and local television station AT 5. The city’s public transport company GVB agreed that there was a problem and said they were waiting for spare parts for the lifts.

Pedal off

CYCLISTS are increasingly unpopular in France and are accused of treating other road users with contempt, especially in Paris where mayor Anne Hidalgo is reproached for favouring them. In contrast, the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) claim cyclists are “routinely subjected to motorised violence.”

Enduring links

EMMANUEL MACRON finished his Latin American tour in Chile where he visited the Santiago home of the late poet and Nobel prizewinner Pablo Neruda, emphasising his links to France. The connection was political as well as literary, the President said, since France was both a refuge and a platform for Neruda.

GERMANY FRANCE

Bomb-proof

ENVIRONMENTALISTS opposed to extending Tesla’s Gruneheide plant were moved from their camp by police who explained that they needed to verify there were no more unexploded bombs in the area after two were found there last summer. Once pronounced safe, the activists could return, police said.

Pay cut offer

CRISIS-HIT Volkswagen, which hopes to save €18 billion by shutting down three sites worldwide, is also planning staff reductions, prompting its German employees to offer a cut in their salaries to avoid redundancies. Should this fail, the union that represents them warned they would take industrial action.

NORWAY

Pay attention

THE number of boys in the 13-17 age group taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown from 2 per cent to 5.5. per cent since 2004, Norway’s Institute of Public Health (NIPH) figures showed. The NIPH attributed the rise to growing awareness and improved diagnostic methods.

Metro mayhem

MODERNISING Oslo’s busy Majorstuen station, a new signalling system and completing the new Fornebu line will disrupt the metro system in 2025, public transport provider Ruter announced. “There will be detours and replacement buses on different sections throughout much of next year,” Ruter warned.

Photo credit: CC/Anders Utbult

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Fusion promise

PIONEERING British nuclear fusion company, Tokamak, has raised £99 million (€118.8 million) from investors who include the fund that manages the wealth of Italy’s billionaire Agnelli family. Tokamak believes that within 10 years, a pilot plant could be producing almost unlimited amounts of clean electricity.

Strike looms

MORE than 100,000 meat packing employees intend to strike on December 4 and 5 unless unions and the sector’s business owners can decide on working conditions. The unions said they hoped the employers would seize “every chance” to agree terns if they wished to avoid conflict throughout the sector.

West End rents

LONDON’S New Bond Street, where rentals cost £14,384 (€17,210) per square metre, is now the world’s third-most expensive shopping street. Only Via Monte Napoleone in Milan, followed by Upper Fifth Avenue in New York, are more expensive according to US global estate agents, Cushman and Wakefield.

Foreign aid

OF 515,000 jobs created over the past year, 211,000 went to non-Spanish personnel. Representing 13.6 per cent of Spain’s workforce, foreign wage earners constituted 41 per cent of all new employees and also account for more than 15 per cent of workers in 20 Spanish provinces, Social Security figures showed.

Not for sale

LUXURY handbag maker Mulberry is slashing 85 of its 350 head office jobs following a dip of almost 20 per cent in half-year sales. In October company rejected a £111 million (€133 million) offer from 37 per cent shareholder, Frasers Group, after major shareholder, Challice, said it had no interest in selling.

STAT OF WEEK

investment by Spanish power company Endesa between 2024 - 2027 as it focuses on upgrading and expanding its networks and cutting back on renewable projects.

New role for Sharon White

DAME SHARON WHITE, who made an early exit from John Lewis last September, has been engaged to head Canada’s public and semi-public pension fund ma nager in Europe.

White begins her new role at Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) in January 2025, replacing David Morley who reti red as CDPQ’s European chief in April.

In an internal memo that was first disclosed by Bloomberg, Marc-Andre Blanchard, executive vice-president of CDPQ Global, said that White’s “expertise and collaborative approach” would boost the fund’s ambitions for growth in the UK and Europe.

The Canadian fund opened an office in London, its regional headquarters for Europe, in 2016 but moved to larger premises in 2023. In the same memo,

Blanchard pointed out that Britain was the fund’s “largest investment destination” outside Canada and

POWER company Iberdrola issued AUS$750 million (€460) in green bonds on November 19.

This has made Iberdrola the first non-financial Spanish company to carry out a “kangaroo” transaction, where a foreign company issues bonds in Australian dollars.

In Iberdrola’s case, these were green bonds that are earmarked for environmentally-friendly projects.

The Iberdrola bonds, which were 2.8 times over-subscribed, were issued in two tranches of AUS$350 million (€215 million) for a six-year term and AU$400 million (€245 million) for 10 years.

Clear as water

SEVERN TRENT WATER’S half-year profits tripled to £192 million (€230.4 million) despite not meeting water quality standards.

The company, which provides water for 4.7 million customers in an area between Bristol, mid-Wales and the Humber, said it expected to be penalised for failings at Strensham (Worcestershire).

A Severn Trent spokesperson predicted a “significant improvement” in water quality in 2025, thanks to the company’s “biggest ever” ultraviolet disinfection process.

By the end of 2023, CDPQ’s UK investments, which include stakes in the First Hydro Company as well as Eurostar and Heathrow, totalled C$34 billion (€23 billion).

White stepped aside as the John Lewis Partnership chair after revealing in October 2023 that she would leave the post at the end of her five-year term in February 2025. The announcement came shortly after she admitted that her turnaround plans for the Partnership would take another two years to complete and cost

In fact she left in September this year to make way for Jason Tarry, Tesco’s former chief executive who was brought in to complete the recovery that White, previous chief executive at communications regulator Ofcom, failed to pull off.

Iberdrola down under

Not enough

GRIFOLS said on November 19 that Canadian investment fund Brookfield’s takeover bid “significantly” undervalued its prospects and long-term potential.

The Barcelona-based pharmaceutical company said Brookfield’s €10.50 offer for every Grifols ‘A’ share, and €7.62 per ‘B’ share, put a too-low value of €6.45 billion on the company.

Following a board meeting, Grifols announced after the market closed on November 19 that it would not recommend that shareholders accepted an offer “at the indicated price.”

Brookfield and the Grifols family had, until now, intended to take the company private after the company lost 30 per cent of its market value following attacks from short-seller Gotham City Research in January and March.

AVIVA, one of the UK’s largest pension funds, has lost £368 million (€441.5 million) on ‘disastrous’ incinerator power plant investments.

The power plants were designed to run on biomass waste wood, but later converted to burn household waste.

The Guardian reported despite pouring ‘millions’ into three power plants in Hull, Boston and Barry (Wales) and after months of criticism from individual shareholders, Aviva is putting them into administration.

An Aviva source said the technology “posed significant challenges” that would require more investment to solve.

PETROINEOS, which owns Scotland’s sole oil refinery, rejected a US consortium’s approach only months before it is due to close.

Iberdrola’s Australian operation arrived less than a month after posting a net profit of €5.47 billion for the first nine months of 2024, with predicted growth of 14 per cent for the entire year.

As well as its eurozone operations, the Bilbao-based multinational headed by Ignacio Sanchez Galan has this year carried out transactions in Switzerland, the UK, Norway and now Australia, the only European utility company to do so.

Changed tactics

IN April, BBVA proposed an €11 billion takeover bid for all Sabadell shares which the Catalan bank rejected.

By May, the bid had turned hostile although Bilbao-headquartered BBVA still insists that from its point of view the offer remains friendly.

Following a media advertising campaign and accusations between both banks, BBVA is taking a more moderate approach, and now stresses how both banks would be able to face sustainability and technological challenges together.

Meanwhile Deutsche Bank analysts predict that BBVA will add another €2 billion to its offer, stating that it doubted the present offer had little chance of success.

According to Sky News, the consortium led by Robert McKee, a US energy industry expert includes The Canal Group and Trading Stack, a commodities trader based in the Middle East.

Sources close to the offer revealed that Petroineos, which is 50 per cent owned by Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals empire, intends to convert the 100-year-old Grangemouth installation into an import terminal for processed fuels.

CAIXABANK announced its 2025-2027 plans for maintaining profitability despite falling interesting rates affecting Europe’s banks. Spain’s biggest high street lender announced it expects its return on tangible equity (ROTE) to average 15 per cent over the next three years, anticipating “solid economic growth” to boost revenue and compensate for lower interest rates.

Although this is below its 16.9 per cent third-quarter ROTE, CaixaBank calculates this will have risen above 16 per cent by 2027.

IBERDROLA: Green bond issue in Australia for Bilbao-based companhy

SHARON WHITE: Appointed head of CDPQ in Europe.

LONDON - FTSE 100

3I Group 3.563,00 3.586,00 3.560,00 28,06K Admiral Group 2.455,0 2.456,0 2.438,0 5,91K

Airtel Africa 98,39 98,45 97,00 166,52K

Anglo American 2.368,5 2.381,0 2.360,0 57,34K

Antofagasta 1.683,50 1.699,00 1.683,50 28,03K

Ashtead Group 6.254,0 6.300,0 6.244,0 41,83K

Associated British Foods 2.189,0 2.196,0 2.182,0 28,02K AstraZeneca 10.223,3 10.230,0 10.140,0 108,86K Auto Trader Group Plc 817,60 820,00 814,00 52,5K Aviva 487,61 487,80 486,28 161,3K

B&M European Value Retail SA 347,10 348,70 340,60 375,43K

BAE Systems 1.326,29 1.332,00 1.323,25 338,74K Barclays 259,10 264,80 258,55 3,25M

Barratt Developments 408,40 409,10 405,00 154,17K Beazley 777,50 785,50 771,50 25,77K

Berkeley 4.338,0 4.340,0 4.258,0 11,53K

BP 391,45 394,90 390,95 2,43M British American Tobacco 2.936,7 2.937,0 2.928,6 129,82K

BT Group 149,73 149,73 148,35 1,15M Bunzl 3.480,0 3.486,0 3.466,0 11,9K Centrica 124,89 124,91 123,70 607,37K

16,23K

2.629,00 2.636,00 2.626,00 146,19K

Group 231,00 232,60 230,80 153,7K

Intl 3.510,0 3.521,0 3.488,0 8,14K

5.630,0 5.645,0 5.610,0 12,36K

2.363,8 2.368,0 2.348,5 128,34K

514,00 519,20 511,60

19,98K

743,50 745,00 738,00 8,35K

657,50 658,30 655,00 45,66K

BUSINESS

EXTRA

On track

SPAIN’S publicly-owned engineering company Ineco increased its presence in Morocco with a €2.275 million railway design project in partnership with local company

CID. This was Ineco’s third Moroccan contract this year, making the region its principal market outside Spain.

Light up

OFGEM ordered German power company

E.ON to pay its UK prepayment customers

£14.5 million (€17.4 million) in compensation after billing failures between early 2021 and late 2023. The UK’s energy regulator said that approximately 250,000 households would receive an average of £144 (€172.80).

Lidl GB is back in profit

LIDL GB reported pretax profits of £43.6 billion (€52.3 billion) for the year ending February 29, 2024.

The German-owned discounter, which a year ago announced losses of £75 million (€90 million) saw revenue soar by approximately 17 per cent to £10.9 billion (€13 billion) as it slowed expansion to concentrate on upgrading existing stores.

Only one new store opened last year, compared with 45 in 2022-2023 although

Patchy debut

SHARES in clean energy and water treatment company Cox, which debuted on the Spanish stock exchange on November 15, have recovered from initial setbacks.

Opening at €10.24, slightly above the Cox shares’ €10.23 reference price that gave the company a market value of €805 million, they fell within minutes to €9.86 with more than one million transactions that day.

According to insiders, the disappointing performance was due to market concerns regarding renewable energy following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.

By close of day on November 18 the Cox shares closed at €10.22, a 7.58 per cent improvement according to Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME), which organises activities on Spain’s stock exchanges.

the company plans to open 18 in the coming months and 40 more next year.

On November 20 the group, now on the point of overtaking Morrisons as Britain’s fifth-largest supermarket, released figures showing that the chain gained 300,0000 new shoppers and 60 per cent of UK households visited a Lidl store at least once over the previous 12 months.

Lidl’s strongest growth came from fresh produce, where sales increased by 22 per cent, while baked items also rose, making the discounter the second largest retailer in that category ahead of Asda and Morrisons.

“We’ve come a long way since we opened our first stores here 30 years ago,” Lidl GB’s chief executive Ryan McDonnell said. “From stocking jars of frankfurters, over twothirds of our products are now sourced from British suppliers.”

Yes to STC

MADRID will approve the state-backed Saudi Arabian STC Group’s acquisition of a 9.9 per cent Telefonica stake and a seat on the board. As the deal involved a holding of more than 5 per cent by a foreign investor, and because Telefonica is of strategic importance owing to its telecoms, industrial and Defence contracts, government consent was required.

Car deals

SANTANDER UK has allocated £295 million (€354 million) to cover possible payouts to customers who took out car loans without knowing that the bank was paying commission to car dealers. The provision affected the bank’s pre-tax third-quarter profits, which fell to £143 million (€171.6 million) compared with £413 million (€495.8 million) in the second quarter.

LIDL GB: Two-thirds of products sourced from British suppliers.

Give us all a break

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

AS far as I’m concerned, these so-called graffiti ‘artists,’ are not only a blight on the landscape but a blight on our whole society.

Their daubs scrawls and indiscriminate obscenities, desecrate our buildings, bridges, rolling stock and just about anything else that gets in the way of their sanctimonious spray cans. I do admit that a small minority (ala Banksy) can indeed be creative, and sometimes even enhance buildings and structures that are otherwise gloomy and run down - but the majority are not.

Most are anti-social destructive louts, with nothing better to do than destroy other people’s creations and hard work. Far from it for me to declare that the three young men who were once rundown and tragically killed by a train deserved what they got - of course they didn’t, but there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that they simply shouldn’t have been there in

the first place. Apparently, the following day ‘tensions were running high’ at the Loughborough Junction, where well-wishers sprayed black hearts and RIP on shutters outside the station.

It appears extra police had to be brought in after youths defaced a flower memorial and daubed slogans criticising the police and Transport for London for their actions! Er, just a minute What particular actions were they actually objecting to? The way the police had the utterly disturbing and upsetting job of clearing the remains of the victims from the track?

The Transport authorities highly daunting task of dealing with the disruption and commuter chaos that ensued after the accident? Give us all a break.

The sooner these misfits put the spray cans away, smarten up and get down to learning something from all that mainly free education they take so much for granted, the better it will be for all of us. Personally, I would declare all-out combat on these people; using CCTV and any means possible to bring

them to book. I would like to see them named, shamed and made to clean off their filth, before being heavily fined, lose their student grants or even face imprisonment.

How dare these blots on society be allowed to deface other people’s property, particularly our memorials and cause an affront to our senses in the name of ‘art’. Perhaps something good will come out of this tragedy by discouraging others to splosh paint everywhere, but somehow, I doubt it. I dunno, perhaps it’s me. Sometimes I truly feel I’m getting too old for it all.

One totally unrelated action I would like to suggest before I finally check out, is to remove the words ‘well done’ and ‘amazing’ from the English language. That should strike most our so-called TV presenters and quizzers utterly dumb and make way for some proper talent, that can actually ad lib their way out of the proverbial paper bag! Thanks for all your mail. Keep it coming, I truly do read it all.

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.

Internet Saint

CARLO ACUTIS, known as ‘the patron saint of the internet’ and ‘God’s influencer’, is set to become the first millennial to be canonised by the Catholic Church.

The canonisation ceremony will take place on April 26, 2025, at the Vatican, officiated by Pope Francis.

Carlo Acutis, born in London and raised in Italy, gained recognition for using his technological skills to document miracles online and create websites for Catholic organisations. He passed away at age 15 in 2006 from leukaemia in Monza, Italy. After his death, his remains were moved to a shrine in Assisi, where they are displayed alongside other relics.

Canonisation in the Catholic Church requires two verified miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession. Acutis’ first miracle, recognised in 2020, involved the healing of a Brazilian child with a congenital disease. His beatification was marked by a ceremony at St Francis Basilica in Assisi, where a tapestry bearing his image was displayed. The second miracle, involved a university student in Florence who recovered from severe brain bleeding.

Carlo Acutis’ life story has been described as a bridge for the Catholic Church to connect with younger generations in the digital era. Pope Francis, who has frequently praised Acutis, sees him as a model of faith and modern evangelism.

INTERVIEW

Speaking European - fashion designer, Amy Molyneaux

BRITISH fashion designer, Amy Molyneaux, best known for her immutable VIP girl dresses, lives in Madrid. Euro Weekly News met Amy to discuss life and culture in Spain compared to the UK.

EWN: What are the biggest cultural differences?

Amy: “If someone had a shop that was really struggling, I would say, ‘let’s do an event together’. Here they don’t really do that. But mostly in Madrid, not all of Spain. What I love is restaurants in that with children in Spain they literally swing open the fire escape, move tables out of the way to get you and the pushchair in, and they put you in the best spot ever. In Britain it’s like children should be seen and not heard.”

why we live in a flat. In Madrid he can’t go out and play in the garden.”

EWN: What’s something weird about Spanish life?

EWN: Do your kids notice much difference?

Amy: “Carlos (her son) doesn’t get

Credit: Studio Molyneaux

Amy: “In the area we live there are a lot of families that dress their children the same, usually like the Von Trapp family. You don’t really see that in the UK.”

EWN: Would you ever go back to the UK to live?

Amy: “Yeah, I just don’t have a plan for it at the moment. The children are settled in school and Carlos is really excelling. I wouldn’t want to take him out of school just for my sake.”

Carlo Acutis.

Image: Beato

Carlo Acutis / Facebook.

Amy Molyneaux.

Energise your mind A hearty snack

IN an era where mental health challenges are on the rise, exercise is emerging as a powerful tool for enhancing mental wellness. Research consistently shows that physical activity can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression while boosting overall mood.

Regular exercise triggers the release of endorphins, often referred to as ‘feel-good’ hormones, which can create feelings of happiness and euphoria. Activities such as running, cycling, and even brisk walking have been linked to improved mental clarity and reduced stress levels. A recent study found that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise, several

times a week, can have a profound impact on mental well-being.

Experts recommend incorporating a variety of activities to keep things enjoyable - whether it’s joining a local sports club, practising yoga, or simply taking daily walks. Not only does exercise provide physical benefits, but it also fosters social connections, which are essential for mental health.

AS the quest for effective weight loss strategies continues, two popular methods have emerged: intermittent fasting (IF) and calorie counting. Each approach has its proponents, but which is more effective for shedding pounds?

Intermittent fasting involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. Research indicates that this method can promote weight loss by reducing overall caloric intake and enhancing metabolic

As more people recognise the mind-body connection, prioritising physical activity as a fundamental aspect of mental wellness is becoming increasingly vital. Embracing exercise can be a transformative step toward a healthier mind and a happier life.

Consuming nuts regularly has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease by improving cholesterol levels, reducing inflammation, and supporting blood vessel health.

Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are especially beneficial. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and magnesium, which help lower LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ cholesterol) while boosting HDL (the ‘good’ cholesterol).

Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, known for reducing inflammation

Intermittent fasting or calorie counting?

health. Research has found that IF can lead to significant weight loss while improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation.

On the other hand, calorie counting requires individuals to track their daily

caloric intake, focusing on consuming fewer calories than they burn. This method emphasises portion control and can be effective for many. Studies show that those who consistently monitored their calorie intake were more successful in lo-

Butterfly skin fundraising

DEBRA, a Spanish charity dedicated to supporting families affected by butterfly skin, is launching a fundraising campaign to recruit a new psychologist.

Currently, the organisation is calling out to generous members of the public, and those versed in organising fundraising events, to help them meet their target of €23,000. Butterfly skin, or epidermolysis bullosa (EB), is a rare, incurable, and genetic disease affecting 500 people in Spain. The condition causes blistering and painful open wounds, requiring daily bandaging and morphine.

DEBRA aims to raise €23,000 to expand their team with a new psychologist to support over 350 families around the country. The need

for a psychologist is urgent due to the unbearable pain, fear, desperation, rejection, and uncertainty experienced by sufferers and their families.

The charity’s mental health team is dedicated to supporting families in person or online, and has a 24hour emergency helpline. If over 1,000 people donate €23 each, DEBRA can raise the €23,000 desperately needed to employ the new psychologist for their specialist team to support families and sufferers.

This fundraising challenge can be found on migranodearena.org. Videos and photographs produced by Martin Corradini will be published on social media @butterfly skin until the end of November.

and supporting heart function. Pistachios can

cular health. A recommended serving size is about one ounce or a small handful (roughly 20-30 nuts), providing ample heart benefits without excessive calorie intake. Opting for unsalted, raw, or lightly roasted nuts can maximise health benefits.

However, avoid nuts coated in sugar, excessive salt, or processed with unhealthy oils, such as candied pecans or honey-roasted peanuts. Consuming such varieties regularly may counteract the positive cardiovascular effects of nuts.

sing weight and maintaining it over time. Ultimately, the choice between intermittent fasting and calorie counting depends on personal preference and lifestyle. Some may find the structured nature of calorie counting more manageable, while others may prefer the flexibility of intermittent fasting. Consulting with a healthcare professional can help individuals determine the best approach for their unique needs.

• News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •

Costa del Sol For the love of Susan

SUSAN HANNAM was commemorated in Benalmadena, Thursday, November 21, for her more than 30 years of service in offering palliative care to those in their last days on the Costa del Sol and for having received the Order of the British Empire medal for her dedication, initiative, and love.

Councillor Áurea Peralta González said ‘she knows how to listen, she knows how to understand, and she has never said a bad word against anyone.’

Susan took to the stage to sit in conversation with trustee Liz Parry BEM for an informal conversation in a mixture of Spanish and English.

Susan also helped set up the first charity shop in Fuengirola. Liz pointed out that the hat Susan was wearing, the same she had worn on the day of receiving her OBE, was also a purchase from a Cudeca charity shop.

Congratulations, Susan Hannam of Cudeca. Your OBE, your recognition, is most deserved.

Costa Blanca North The Monaco of Spain

COSTA BLANCA NORTH is fast emerging as a highly desirable option for luxury buyers. In fact, so much so, that it is now listed alongside Malaga, the Balearic Islands, Madrid and Barcelona as representing the pinnacle of luxury real estate in Spain.

Each offers unique lifestyle opportunities and investment potential for discerning buyers. When it comes to Costa Blanca North, this area is celebrated for its stunning beaches, golf courses, and laid-back atmosphere, making it a perfect blend of leisure and investment potential.

With picturesque towns like Altea and Moraira, luxury villas and upscale communities are flourishing in this region. However, it is Javea that is making headlines for enticing affluent individuals, including actors, musicians, and professional athletes. With properties on the market for in excess of €6 million, it is no wonder it is attracting such an influx of wealth.

Affectionately known informally as the ‘Monaco of Spain’, Javea has a renowned upscale reputation.

Mallorca

Britain extends season

THE Balearics ranked as the 6 per cent most popular Spanish destination for the week of October 7-13, accounting for 5.8-8.3 per cent of total bookings, according to the data sourced by booking platform TravelgateX.

The study shows a contrasting picture of booking trends for the Balearic Islands. Long-range bookings have fallen, with an overall 5.3 per cent decline in bookings compared to the same period in 2023. However, there has been a late surge in British tourism, with bookings increasing by 27 per cent in the past week, likely driven by warm October weather with temperatures reaching 30ºC in Mallorca. Booking trends highlight diverse travel planning preferences: 28.2 per cent of bookings were made over three months in advance;12.6 per cent were made one to two months prior, and last-minute bookings accounted for 13.8 per cent.

This growing trend of unprompted travel has fueled the surge in bookings.

Costa Blanca South Expats choose Alicante

IN the 2024 Expat City Ranking by InterNations, Alicante secured the third spot among the best cities to live worldwide.

This annual report is based on feedback from over 12,500 expatriates living in 53 cities across 35 countries.

The ranking evaluates key factors such as quality of life, ease of settling in, affordability, and personal finance.

Alicante is celebrated for its affordable lifestyle, warm climate, and relaxed pace of life that appeals to expats from all over the world. The city ranks seventh in the ‘Expat Essentials Index’, which highlights the availability of affordable housing and efficient digital infrastructure.

Expats also find Alicante easy to navigate, with public transportation and digital services receiving high marks. This accessibility, combined with a welcoming atmosphere, makes it easier for newcomers to settle in and enjoy their new surroundings.

Almeria

Stars celebrate cinema

ALMERIA wrapped up its 23rd International Film Festival (FICAL 2024) with a star-studded closing gala, celebrating the best of Spain’s thriving film and TV industry. The event brought together over 600 professionals, including big names like Carmen Machi, Karra Elejalde, and Najwa Nimri, who praised the region’s stunning landscapes and the warm welcome from locals.

Held at the Maestro Padilla Auditorium, the gala showcased the province’s natural beauty as a filming destination. Highlights included awards for emerging filmmakers and series that captivated audiences. The feature film La Estrella Azul (The Blue Star) received top honours, including Best Film and Best Director, while popular TV shows were also recognised for their cultural impact.

The festival’s highlight was the ‘Almeria, Land of Cinema’ award, given to Karra Elejalde for his outstanding career. Earlier, he unveiled his star on the Walk of Fame, a nod to Almeria’s growing appeal as a film hub.

MURCIA’s festive season kicked off with a touching tribute to Valencia, still recovering from recent DANA storms. During the Christmas light switch-on at Plaza de Santo Domingo, key buildings lit up in Valencia’s flag colours, recognising the region’s struggles and the teams from Murcia who helped with recovery efforts.

The square was packed with locals and visitors enjoying the event, which featured a stunning light display and festive carols performed by the flamenco group Raya Real. Mayor José Ballesta praised Murcia’s community spirit, saying, “Murcians know how to give their all. Our generosity is what makes Christmas here so special.”

This year’s decorations bring traditional holiday magic to life with over 1,300 light displays spread across the city and its 59 districts. Two 10-metre-tall angels now stand at the entrance to Calle Trapería, while other streets dazzle with brandnew designs.

Let our lives be full of both thanks and giving!

The Americans on the Costa del Sol celebrate Thanksgiving!

FROM COAST TO COAST

THANKSGIVING on the Costa del Sol is more than just a holiday; it’s an elegant celebration of gratitude, generosity, and a dash of humour. For over 20 years, Americans and their international friends have gathered in Marbella, Andalucia, to celebrate this uniquely American tradition with a distinctly Spanish flair.

Though Thanksgiving’s origins are often traced to Plymouth in 1621, historian Michael Gannon proposes the first real feast of thanks took place 56 years earlier in Florida, when Spanish explorers shared a meal with the Timucua people. Wherever it started, Thanksgiving is about more than just the food - it’s about the values of generosity, unity, and appreciation that transcend time and borders.

Henry Ward Beecher captured it perfectly when he said: “There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.” In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, and in 1941, Congress made it official. Since then, this day has become synonymous with reflecting on life’s blessings and giving thanks for them - whether it’s for family, friends, or that extra slice of pumpkin pie.

This year, the American International Club of Marbella hosted a Thanksgiving feast that combined tradition with the warmth of this vibrant community. Marbella, a melting pot of cultures, was the perfect backdrop for an evening of shared gratitude

Hannibal’s Spanish showdown!

THIS is a story about Hannibal. No, not my bank manager called Hannibal (really, some parents!) but that other ‘Hannibal’.

Recent digs in Catalonia have uncovered clues to Hannibal’s epic 218 BC march across the Spanish Pyrenees to attack Italy. The 27-year-old Carthaginian commander, famous for his daring strategies, led an army that likely razed a settlement at Tossal de Baltarga, a key site in northern Spain.

NORA

BREAKING VIEWS

man enemies and cementing his place in history.

Reviewing the past isn’t easy. And whatever you think about Hannibal’s massacres, maybe we should give the man a break.

and laughter. Among the distinguished guests were Doña Remedios Bocanegra, Marbella’s Foreigners’ Department councillor, and Oti García, Foreigners’ Department representative, whose presence served as a reminder of the strong ties between Marbella’s international community and the local authorities. Also in attendance were Milagros Hoffmeier, Vice President of the Club, and Lucca Movaldi, President of the Club, whose leadership ensures this tradition continues year after year.

The evening was a feast in every sense - traditional turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, complemented by conversations that made everyone feel right at home, no matter where they were from.

For the American expats in Marbella, Thanksgiving is not just about indulging in a hearty meal - it’s about honouring the Spanish community that has welcomed them with open arms. It’s a chance to express gratitude and give back to those who’ve made them feel like part of the family.

Thanksgiving serves as a gentle reminder that it’s not just about one day - it’s about living each day with thanks and generosity. Let’s carry that spirit of appreciation forward, embracing kindness and building stronger connections in our global village.

And now, for a little post-dinner humour:

‘What do the universe and your waistline after Thanksgiving dinner have in common?’

‘They’re both expanding!’

So, here’s to a festive holiday, a heart full of thanks, and a waistline that’s definitely been stretched by a little extra love (and turkey).

While his Alpine crossing is legendary, Hannibal’s route through the Pyrenees remains murky. Charred remains at Tossal de Baltarga hint at deliberate destruction, reinforcing historical accounts of brutal conflicts with local tribes.

Hannibal’s tactical brilliance peaked at the Battle of Cannae where his 50,000 troops encircled and massacred 80,000 Romans. This devastating defeat was a masterclass in military strategy, Hannibal annihilating his Ro-

Consider how other historical figures have been rehabilitated. Henry VIII ‘wasn’t such a wrong ‘un’: a Tudor historian has claimed that, aside from ‘marrying his brother’s missus, bankrupting the country, being mean to the Pope and executing two wives’, the monarch was a ‘well-mannered fella’. You can almost hear today’s tyrants sighing with relief at how they’ll be reassessed...

And please, don’t forget EWN’s call for #CompassionThisChristmas!

Nora Johnson’s 13 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The Girl across the Lake’ (www.nora-johnson.net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Nora’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

SUSPENSE AND CRIME THRILLERS AND A FREELANCE JOURNALIST.

JOHNSON

Movaldi’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

LUCCA MOVALDI

PRESIDENT: AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL CLUB MARBELLA

PETS

IN recent years, technology has transformed the way we care for our pets, making it easier and more efficient for owners to ensure their furry friends are healthy and happy. From health-monitoring apps to smart feeders, innovations are enhancing pet care like never before.

Wearable devices track pets’ activity levels, sleep patterns, and vital signs, helping owners monitor their pets’ health in real time and alerting them to potential issues before they escalate. Smart feeders allow owners to manage their pet’s diet effectively by automating portion control and feeding schedules, reducing the risk

Technology for animal lovers

of obesity. Interactive toys provide mental stimulation by allowing owners to play with their pets remotely through a camera and laser pointer.

Additionally, health-monitoring apps help pet owners keep track of vaccinations, vet appointments, and medication schedules. As these technologies become more accessible, tech-savvy pet owners are better equipped to provide their pets with a fulfilling and active life, paving the way for a healthier future.

Pet-friendly travel in Spain

TRANSPORTING pets in cars can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with responsibilities, especially in Spain, where regulations mandate the safe transport of animals. To ensure a safe journey for both pets and drivers, here are some essential guidelines.

First, pets must be restrained while travelling. This can be achieved using a pet seatbelt, a harness, or a secure carrier. These measures prevent distractions and protect pets in the event of sudden stops. Failure to comply with this regulation can result in fines of up to €500. Before setting off, ensure your pet is comfortable in their restra-

Talisker feels safe when the pet-sitters are in the house

TALISKER is a rather possessive cat and can get anxious in a cattery where he doesn’t feel at home. When his owners travel away from home, he prefers to stay at home looking after the pet-sitter and the three other resident felines, Lossit, Monty and Grouse. Talisker is very much in charge and always present making himself available to help the sitter in any capacity that might be needed.

HouseSitMatch Saves You Money - Pet-sitting is Free

If you use HouseSitMatch you find free checked petsitters who pay their way to stay in your home caring for your pets young and old in your absence. It’s a house-sitting arrangement facilitated by a managed online system. Our house and pet-sitting works as an exchange of services - Free accommodation for free pet care!

HouseSitMatch is Safe - All Members Are Checked

All members are checked for safety, and you choose which house-sitters come to care for your pets in your absence.

Your pets stay at home - Safe and Undisturbed

All pets benefit from staying at home, so their routines are undisturbed. Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care and peace of mind for you and your pets.

If you’re travelling in 2025 join now and get organised today:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch. com

int system. Gradually acclimatising them to the carrier or harness at home can help reduce anxiety.

It’s also important to never leave pets unattended in the car, especially on warm days, as temperatures can quickly become dangerous. Plan regular breaks to allow your pet to stretch, hydrate, and relieve themselves.

Lastly, make sure your pet has proper identification, such as a microchip or tags, in case they escape during stops. By following these guidelines, pet owners can ensure safe and enjoyable journeys throughout Spain.

2. Join for as little as £89/€99 per year

3. Create a profile with photos of your pets and home

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety, then build an advert to find sitters. House-sitters see your advert, respond and you choose from the applicants.

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We’ve used HouseSitMatch for the last few years to find caring pet-sitters for our family of pets. It’s been a great experience; the sitters are caring and we’ve made some wonderful friends through the process. Pat Creighton, Pet owner.

How do you join? Register online via www.Housesitmatch.com

Need a pet or house-sitter? House-sitting is a win-win, free house and pet-sitting exchanged for free accommodation! Reader exclusive offer - 20% Off Any New Membership Register as either house-sitter or homeowner. Get a 20% discount - Use coupon code PERFECT20.

HouseSitMatch house-sitters don’t charge and keep your pets company - Talisker likes them.

ANDALUCIA WALKING FOOTBALL LEAGUE

A happy weekend for Captain

Fran and Malaga WFC!

AWFL Over 50s

Internacionales Mollina 3 v 4

Malaga WFC

A fast start to the game saw both teams create openings without any meaningful shots being taken. It took four running offences by the hosts to give Malaga the lead through the resulting penalty, scored by captain Fran. Mollina soon equalised with a fi ne goal from Steve Webster. However, the visitors soon nosed in front again with a defl ected shot from a free kick by Fran.

After the break, Mollina drew level with a Paul Blackwell penalty but Malaga went into the lead once more with a second penalty from Fran for an incursion into the keeper’s area, and further extended their lead through another Fran free kick to give him his fourth! Blackwell pulled another back for the home side, who then threatened to equalise yet again. But it was not to be as Malaga hung on for the win!

AWFL Over 60s

Nerja United 4 v 5 Malaga WFC

Nerja were left to rue a host of missed chances and lapses in discipline as Malaga claimed a dramatic victory in the dying mo-

Max Verstappen crowned

FORMULA 1 fans across Europe had to set their alarms for an early start on Sunday morning November 24 if they wanted to see the Las Vegas F1 race live. However, those that did were rewarded with the crowning of the World Champion of 2024, as Max Verstappen racing for Red Bull earned the coveted title for an impressive fourth time, marking his fourth consecutive title win.

Verstappen knew that in order to secure the title, he needed to finish ahead of title rival Lando Norris in the McLaren. This he managed to achieve with his fifth-place position, as Norris ended the race in sixth place.

ments. Dave Burgess gave the hosts a perfect start by smashing in a superb strike off the post. With Nerja missing decent chances, they gave the visitors a penalty for running offences, which was converted by Scott Cousins. With a Malaga player sin-binned for a deliberate handball, Nerja took advantage and scored through a close range strike from Mick Sweeney. However, Malaga equalised again through Cousins from the penalty spot before half time. Soon after the break,

Nerja’s Tony Wells converted a penalty to regain the lead and quickly extended it with a spectacular long-range effort to make it 4-2. However, the home side sank into disarray, with multiple players sin-binned for dissent, and this allowed Malaga to strike back with a free kick from Cousins from the edge of the box, giving him his hat-trick!

Mark Sargent then equalised for the visitors with a defl ected free kick which wrong-footed the keeper. Malaga pushed forward, forcing more defensive errors, culminating in an unfortunate Nerja own goal to earn the visitors a hard fought win.

See you next week!

This put his points tally for the season so far at 403 points, with his nearest rival on 340 points. Verstappen’s 2024 season includes victories in nine of the 22 races. This included a dominant start to the season with wins in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Emilia-Romagna, Canada, and Spain.

Verstappen secured a podium first at Sao Paulo 2024, keeping his title bid alive. Credit: Shutterstock: Michael Potts F1