Axarquia 2 - 8 January 2025 Issue 2061

Timeless traditions

Showcasing beauty

“Axarquia gears up for the magical arrival of the Three Kings” “Axarquia aims to captivate global markets”

ON the eve of the much-anticipated Three Kings’ Day, Spain gets ready to welcome Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar with a parade that has been celebrated for centuries.

The Three Kings’ Parade has its origins in the Christian celebration of the Epiphany, which commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus in the manger. Although the tradition of the Epiphany was established in the second century, the custom of the Parade in Spain was consolidated during the 19th century.

The Three Kings Parade is set to take place on January 5 in Torre del Mar and various other towns across Axarquia.

Scheduled to begin at 5.00pm at the Mayor’s O ce, the parade in Torre del Mar will make its way through the town’s

main streets and avenues, distributing six tonnes of sweeties along the route. Additionally, numerous gifts will be handed out to children enjoying the evening.

Mayor Jesús Carlos Pérez Atencia expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s

event, emphasising its importance as both a community celebration and a tourist attraction.

“This year, we wanted to go further and o er a high-quality event that not only captivates our residents but also attracts visitors from other towns who

have decided to spend the holidays with us,” the mayor con rmed.

“Christmas in Torre del Mar has become an important tourist attraction for the Costa del Sol, and it is essential to continue innovating and improving every year.”

Magic & inclusion

VELEZ-MALAGA is taking steps to enhance community connections and make events more accessible for individuals with autism and other disorders. For the rst time, the Parade of Their Majesties the Three Wise Men on January 5 will feature a ‘noise-free zone’, aimed at creating a more enjoyable experience for people with autism, similar conditions, and reduced mobility.

Calle Molino de Velasco has been designated as the location for this inclusive initiative, o ering a quieter space during the festivities.

The Christmas celebra-

tions will conclude on Sunday with the grand Three Wise Men Parade, which promises to enchant both children and adults as it winds through the town’s

streets and squares. Beginning at Plaza de Las Indias, the route will pass through landmarks such as Plaza Reyes Católicos, Calle Canalejas, Molino de Velasco,

and Camino Viejo de Malaga before culminating at Plaza de Las Carmelitas.

The parade will feature 12 oats, processions, bands, pastorals, dance performances, belly dancers, and entertainment groups and, this year, for the rst time, the Velez-Malaga Cornetas and Drums Band of La Caridad will participate.

AXARQUIA will take centre stage at the International Tourism Fair in Madrid, scheduled to run from January 22 to 26.

“Axarquia holds tremendous potential as a tourist destination, offering a rare combination of coastal and inland attractions that few regions can match,” said Jorge Martín, president of the Association of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol. “This dual offering is what we aim to present to both national and international markets with pride.”

He added, “This year, we are also emphasising our connection to the broader destination of Malaga, Costa del Sol, and Andalucia, showcasing the unique appeal of our region to the world.”

Tourism reached record highs during the summer period of 2024 with over one million visitors staying in the Axarquia.

Axarquia

Spain gets ready to welcome Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar.

Sunset view from the village of Frigiliana.

Water on tap Big investment creates jobs

FOR the first time since June 2023, Velez-Malaga residents have running water throughout the night.

Although the timetable for cutting off the water supply has varied over the past year and a half, it has been impossible to open a tap or flush a cistern there between 10pm and 7.30am since last September.

But the autumn rains that wreaked such havoc also helped to fill reservoirs, while the regional government has increased the water allocation from 180 to 200 litres per head per day for the 86,000 people living in the municipality.

Nevertheless, the town hall reminded residents that although there would be no more nocturnal cuts it was still essential to be careful regarding water consumption.

Jesus Maria Claros, Water and Infrastructure councillor, also pointed out that his department continues to repair leaks in the water distribution network.

The amount of water lost in this way had been reduced by 2.5 per

cent, Claros revealed, saving a total of 13,000 cubic metres each month, thanks to heavy investment in specialised equipment for detecting leaks in the water distribution network.

“With 750 kilometres of piping for the domestic supply, stormwater drainage and sewerage and with districts spread over such a large area, there are considerable leakage - and fraud - problems,” he added.

GOVERNMENT investment of just over €19,000 will be put into improvements to be carried out on the Deputy Mayor’s Office and the Medical Office in Triana.

This project is part of an ambitious plan to modernise infrastructures throughout the Velez-Malaga municipality, which will eventually benefit from over €300,000 in investment.

The current works will consist of demolishing and installing distribution areas currently occupied by the medical office and will affect the facilities that are in the area.

Examples of work to be completed include updating the exterior cladding of the building, which is going to be repaired and painting the exterior woodwork.

Inside will also be painted to provide a renovated space adapted to the needs of its users.

Councillor for Municipal Buildings, Jesus María Claros has emphasised how important these works with the PFEA, are not only to improve infrastructure but to help develop more jobs for local employment.

The PFEA is a government plan subsidised by grants to help employment levels rise in rural areas.

“Thanks to the PFEA we can undertake these works to improve and generate employment

through the hiring of local personnel.” said Claros.

The deputy mayor of Triana Lordes Piña has said that these projects “demonstrate that public investment translates into improvements in the quality of life of our citizens.”

It is expected that the PFEA 2024 budget will allow over 140 people to be hired in the area as the works to improve municipality and community buildings continue.

The project is part of an ambitious plan.

Photo Credit: Vélez-Málaga Town Hall

Photo credit: CC/Tyk

VELEZ-MALAGA: No night-time cuts in water supply for 86,000 residents.

Identifying Unknown Callers

“Avoid spam calls with these easy tips”

RECEIVING a call from an unfamiliar number can be unsettling, especially in Spain where spam calls are common. Fortunately, you can find out who’s calling without risking a call back.

There are several free and easy methods to identify unknown numbers and avoid wasting time on spammers.

Apps like Truecaller and Hiya are popular choices in Spain, instantly notifying you if a call is spam or displaying the caller’s name if known. Truecaller provides real-time identification and blocking, while Hiya offers similar features, letting you know if the call is legitimate. Both rely on crowdsourced data, meaning they become more accurate as more people use them.

If you’d rather not download extra apps, try using What sApp. Save the unknown number to your contacts, then open WhatsApp. If the number is registered, you’ll see their profile photo and name, helping you decide whether the call is worth returning.

Find out who is calling you.

A quick Google search can also help. Many spam callers are reported online, allowing you to verify whether the number is associated with unwanted calls. Some phones in Spain, such as those from Bq, include Google’s spam detection by default, warning you when calls might be spam.

Another option is checking known spam number lists on-

line. Several websites maintain updated databases of reported spam callers, making it easy to see if a suspicious number appears on their lists.

By using these simple methods - downloading a caller ID app, checking WhatsApp, searching online, or consulting spam lists - you can determine who’s calling without ever having to pick up the phone.

Pension changes in 2025:

“What you need to know”

MILLIONS will receive a letter from the Spanish social security system in January to inform them of changes to the pension system in 2025.

The changes affect expatriates who have contributed to Spain’s Social Security system.

The letter in January 2025 will inform pensioners not only of changes in pension amounts but also

the age at which people may retire.

In 2025, the ordinary retirement age will increase by two months on 2024. Thus, it will be possible to retire at 66 years eight months if you have contributed less than 38 years and three months.

However, those who have contributed into the Spanish system for longer will still be able to retire at age 65.

Despite Spain spending record levels on pen-

sions, those eligible are set to enjoy increases in income during 2025.

Contributory pensions will rise by 2.8 per cent. This means that those who have made contributions to the system by working here will enjoy boost to their pension.

Minimum pensions will also increase by 6 per cent and by 9.1 per cent for those with a dependent spouse or widows with family responsibilities.

These increases mean that the minimum retirement pension for single-person households is set for 2025 at €12,241.6 per year and €15,786.4 in cases with a dependent spouse.

The Minimum Living Income (Ingreso Minimo Vital) will also increase by 9 per cent.

The IMV guarantees a minimum income for those whose pensions fall below this level basic level.

Food prices to rise

THE basic food shopping basket in Spain has become 9 per cent more expensive since the government announced VAT reduction measures two years ago.

The average price of a basket of supermarket shopping has increased by 5.56 per cent in 2024, even though there has been a drop of 15 per cent in extra virgin olive oil, a 10 per cent price reduction in bananas, an 11 per cent drop in potatoes, and 16 per cent less in sunflower oil. The average price of the basket is currently €32.87, with all main distribution chains supposedly moderating prices.

However, the president of the consumer association Asufin, Patricia Suárez, claims that the VAT reduction measure has not been effective due to the lack of monitoring and channels for compliance, meaning that food distributors have taken advantage and upped their prices accordingly to take advantage of the government’s measures, something the government was warned would happen.

The government will withdraw all food tax reductions as of January 1, except for olive oil, where the VAT will be kept at 4 per cent instead of the 10 per cent that was added before the inflationary crisis began.

With the new year, the VAT on basic-need foods will return to 4 per cent, while pasta and seed oils will start again at 10 per cent.

High

Earners Hit in 2025

“January Pension Reforms Begin”

JANUARY 2025 will see the introduction of increased contributions for high earners in Spain as part of new reforms. The rules will affect those earning over €4,900 per month and has been introduced as part of reforms to help cover the state’s current costs for pensions.

Around 1.2 million workers in Spain currently fall into the high-earners category.

Up until now, those earning above the maximum cap of €4,720.50 per month were exempt from paying further contributions on what they earned above the maximum cap.

Also, from January onwards, those earning above the cap will pay these extra contributions charged on a sliding percentage scale depending on the value of their earnings.

From 2025, all those people earning above the new cap (set to €4,900 per month from January) will pay a further 0.92 per cent of contributions from their salary in addition to the cap rate to be paid on €4,900. This applies to those who fall into an earnings bracket between the cap and 10 per cent more than the cap, (which equates to those earning between €59,000 and €65,000 per year, approximately).

Those earning between 10 per cent and 50 per cent above the maximum cap, will pay a further 1 per cent on top of the cap rate.

Finally, those earning 50 per cent more than the maximum cap, (roughly €89,000 annually) will pay an extra 1.17 per cent in addition to the maximum cap rate.

Expats who have paid into the Spanish system will be affected by the recent changes to pensions.

Pixabay

Credit: Shutterstock, JarTee.

Torrox road eases traffic

THE first stage of the Camino de Torrox has now been completed and is open to traffic.

The improvements have cost more than €1.8 million, of which the Diputacion provincial council provided €800,000, with Velez-Malaga Town Hall paying the remainder.

“We have taken a significant step in improving mobility and connecting neighbourhoods to the east with the town centre,” Velez-Malaga’s mayor Jesus Lupiañez said. “This thoroughfare is key to decongesting our network of roads.”

The 786-metre section of road be -

tween the El Limonar roundabout and a new roundabout near the A-7 now has two lanes in one direction, pavement, landscaped areas and a parking zone.

Once the second phase has been complete, the 1.3-kilometre road will be 26 metres wide, with two lanes in each direction and a three-metre pavement on each side.

“We now hope the central government will listen to our requests for the semi-link with the motorway,” the mayor added.

“The connection is essential for developing this strategic part of the town.”

All about Axarquia

ENVIRONMENTALIST

association

ENA-Ecologistas en Accion has donated a selection of its publications to the libraries of all Axarquia towns.

ENA-Ecologistas is a non-profitmaking organisation initially created in 1985 and officially registered in 1996. Although the group has since expanded to study

and defend the environment, it originated as a nature group that focused and published books on Axarquia’s flora and fauna.

Many of these have been included in the association’s donations, together with books detailing how ENA-Ecologistas produced the area’s first relief maps of the Tejeda and Almijara

sierras and catalogued the Axarquia place-names.

The books are reaching the public libraries of Axarquia’s 31 municipalities, thanks to the collaboration of Jorge Martinez, president of the Grouped Costa del Sol-Axarquia Municipalities (Mancomunidad de Municipios).

An address for Nerja Cave

NERJA councillors from the PP and PSOE parties voted to name a street after its Cave, discovered in 1959.

The proposal was put forward by Town Planning and Infrastructures councillor Jose Alberto Tome Rivas, who pointed out that the road leading to the Cave had no official name. It was invariably referred to as Carretera de la Cueva and the council meeting agreed that this should now be its formal address.

“Giving this street an official name is recognition of the Cave’s importance, not only as a tourist at traction but also as a symbol of our town’s cultural and scientific heritage,” Nerja’s mayor Jose Alberto Almijo said.

NERJA CAVE: Discovered by chance in 1959.

The Nerja Cave, a protected Site of Cultural Interest since 2006, is located 200 metres above sea level, three-quarters of a kilometre inland from the coast.

The section open to the public covers an area of roughly 140,000 squa -

re metres and extends for 700 metres. Cave paintings dating back 35,000 years were found there in 2012 and archaeologists have said that the Cave appears to have been intermittently used as a shelter by humans up to 21,000BC, after which it was permanently inhabited until around 3,500BC.

Rubbish to cost more

RINCON DE LA VICTORIA Town Hall is distributing 27,000 leaflets, and has launched a campaign on social media, explaining the 2025 rubbish collection tax.

“The town hall is obliged to comply with, and

apply, the law,” Environment councillor Borja Ortiz explained.

“At the same time it is our responsibility to inform residents, with total clarity, about the effects of the central government’s new law on their bills.” The law responds to a European Union directive aimed at calculating the volume of rubbish generated by each household and their recycling levels. However, this directive did not establish any procedures for applying the new rules, leaving each member state to decide.

In Spain’s case, Madrid decided to impose a rubbish collection tax for town halls to pass on to the local population.

Rincon mayor Francisco Salado added that the town hall was looking for the best way to apply the new regulations while trying to lessen the blow of the price hike. This could involve lowering the IBI rates in future, he suggested.

“As we see it, the central government could have passed this on as a national, and not a town hall, tax,” Salado said.

Running for Rocio

THE Joaquin Lobato high school in Torre del Mar recently contacted the Euro Weekly News to announce that they and other Axarquia schools raised €4,000 for the Fundacion Olivares in Malaga.

The Joaquin Lobato school, together with San Faustino high school (Benajarafe), Salvador Rueda school (Velez-Malaga) and Trayamar school (Algarrobo) had run the 10th San Silvestre Solidarity Race in memory of Rocio Sanchez on December 18.

“We are proud to have enjoyed such an agreeable day,” a school spokesperson said.

“And we are equally proud of the 800 pupils and teachers who helped us to raise €4,000 for this foundation and contribute to its incalculable and necessary work.”

The Fundacion Olivares came into existence because Luis, the son of Andres Olivares, its president, became ill with cancer when he was seven.

Before he died two years later, the child suggested that his father could help other children “who have cancer like me.”

That was 14 years ago and Andres Olivares has worked since then to create the foundation which has helped many other children.

One of them was Rocio Sanchez the adolescent who inspired the recent San Silvestre race and died from leukaemia in 2013.

New Year Honours List 2025:

King Charles III awards British Benevolent Fund Spain treasurer Charlie Wilson

MADRID, December 30th, 2024.

Charlie Wilson, the treasurer of the British Benevolent Fund charity in Spain, has been awarded an MBE in His Majesty The King’s 2025 New Year Honours List for services to vulnerable British nationals in Spain.

Since joining the charity in 2011, Mr. Wilson has helped countless British people across Spain by providing short term financial support to those in desperate need. The charity’s work was especially critical during the Covid-19 pandemic, as time and time again he supported the repatriation of vulnerable British nationals to the UK via commercial flights.

The British Ambassador to Spain, Sir Alex Ellis, said:

“Charlie is the backbone of the British Benevolent Fund’s invaluable support of British nationals across Spain. The fact that he has given his time

so generously over such a long period of time is a testimony of his dedication to helping others. I’m thrilled that his continued work is being recognised with an MBE.”

Charlie Wilson, who is based in Madrid, said:

“Receiving the MBE is a great honour and a very humbling experience. Although, it recognises my contribution to helping vulnerable British citizens in Spain, it really reflects the support, motivation and

incredible inspiration I have received from my family and friends. It is a privilege and a vindication of my belief that together we can all make a positive difference in the world.”

The King’s New Year Honours List 2025 includes three other recipients with links to Spain:

• A British Empire Medal (BEM) to Elizabeth Keegan, Director, Lloret Tourist Board, Spain. For services to British nationals in Girona, Spain.

• A Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award to Maria Almudena Sevilla Sanz, Professor, Economic and Social Policy, London School of Economics. For services to Economics and to Women in Economics.

• A Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award to Joel Castellvi-Kellhofer, Entrepreneur, Advocate and Innovator. For services to the Deaf Community.

Sustainable tourism

THE new buzzwords in the tourism sector are Sustainable Tourism and Sustainable Travel.

They are currently being used by the UN tourism board UNWOT to promote travel to villages around the world to perhaps alleviate some of the tourism pressure in bigger cities.

And Austria has been commended for its role in ensuring that “tourism remains a key driver of sustainable and inclusive development” according to UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Austria has been vitally important in measuring tourism’s economic, social, and environmental impacts in UN member states.

Best Tourism Villages is a programme set up by UNWOT to promote tourism as a pathway to preserve rural landscapes, cultural diversity and culinary traditions.

Pololikashvili has said that “By leveraging their unique assets, these communities can foster economic growth, promote local traditions, and enhance the quality of life for their residents.”

UN Tourism commends Austria’s clear commitment to shaping a sustainable and resilient tourism future, and its leadership at both the regional and

global level in this regard.

UNWOT’s list is comprehensive usually covering some 55 villages from across the world, but in this fourth edition of the list they’ve added more via their fast-track programme.

That means that out of 260 applications to join the best villages programme across the world Austrian villages now account for 10 per cent of the newly added tourism hot spots.

One of the newly added villages is Mittelberg, Austria which with its mountainous vistas, beautiful castle and wooden houses would be a stunning addition to anyone’s journey.

Buttering up the economy

POLAND has announced the bizarre release of up to 1,000 metric tonnes (one million kilograms) of frozen butter reserves. Why? To combat surging food prices – a pressing issue as the country approaches its presidential elections in May 2025.

The Polish government hopes the move will stabilise butter prices, which have skyrocketed across Europe due to global milk shortages and inflation, as reported by CNN.

butter is priced between 39.90 and 49.95 zlotys (€9.38-€11.74) depending on the brand, as reported by CNN. The auction began mid December, with a minimum bid requirement of 20 tonnes per buyer, according to the Financial Times.

according to Statista.

Poland’s inflation rate stood at 4.7 per cent in November 2024, cited by Trading Economics, a marked improvement from the 18.4 per cent peak in February 2023,

The Strategic Reserves Agency of Poland revealed that the butter will be sold in 25-kilogram blocks to businesses at a minimum price of 28.38 zlotys (€6.67) per kilogram. This is significantly lower than the retail prices at Polish supermarkets, where

Butter prices in Poland have surged 20 per cent year-on-year at the retail level, while wholesale prices have climbed 50 per cent, further increasing pressure on households, according to CNN.

The increase in butter prices is tied to milk shortages, a shrinking cattle population, and a rise in cattle diseases across Europe.

A declining need

FOOD bank use is on the decline in Belgium, according to the Belgian Federation of Food Banks.

The objective of the federation is to ensure those in need get at least five square meals a week, although the federation reported at the end of December, that the number of families that used the service in 2024 was down on the previous year.

Between 2019 and 2023, the demand of Belgian food banks saw continual increases. However, that number in 2024 has topped out

at 200,000, down from 210,000 the previous year, declining for the first time in years.

There are concerns, however, that simultaneously there is a decline in the amount of donations the federation’s food banks are receiving.

In Belgium, as well as donations from charitable organisations collecting foodstuffs from the public, the bulk of donations come from the retail sector, with supermarkets and food manufacturers donating their overstocks. More than 700 local associations

across Belgium play a crucial role in managing surplus food from stores. These organisations ensure that safe and nutritious meals reach those who need them most. The aid is free but is reserved for those deemed in need by their local Public Centre for Social Welfare.

According to figures, the number of people considered as suffering poverty in Belgium peaked in 2018 at 16.4 per cent. The number has since shown a downward trend, although figures for 2024 have not yet been made public.

Volunteers help out at food bank.

Touristic Austrian villages.

Photo Credit: Flickr Netsrak

Butter to be frozen.

Credit: Pixabay, congerdesign

PORTUGAL has decided to stop obliging motorcyclists from taking their bikes for technical inspection from January 1, 2025.

The ITV (inspección técnica de vehículos), as it is known in Spain, has been deemed unimportant by the Portuguese parliament, who voted the legal requirement out, marking a significant shift in the country’s motorcycle regulations.

The decision is the culmination of a 12-year battle between

Portugal scraps ITV

various political groups. The ITV is supposed to ensure the safe roadworthiness of vehicles. In Portugal, motorcycle numbers have grown by 400 per cent since 1995, and yet accidents have fallen by 80 per cent. Instead of forcing motorcyclists to pass the technical inspections, Portugal focused more on road-use education, better infrastructure, and more

policing.

The Portuguese parliament has turned around regulations against European Union rules, which has required all member countries to apply a technical inspection to motorcycles since 2014. However, Portugal has decided that it is not necessary for them, and the regulation has been reversed. This decision has led to questions about

Spain’s approach to the ITV issue, as the country has been one of the strictest since 1987.

The question now is should the Spanish do the same, especially now that the ITV has been extended to checking the condition of electric scooters?

Some fear that by eliminating the ITV for motorcycles, relaxing rules could lead to more accidents. However, Portugal has given the perfect excuse to rethink the ITV and focus on education instead.

Schiphol cancellations June

THE second busiest airport within the European Union is Schiphol which serves Amsterdam and surrounding areas and it gets busier as spring ends and summer arrives.

It seems logical therefore and in the best interests of the travelling community that flights should be reduced by 25 to 30 per cent between June 21 and June 27. The reason is simple, there will be a NATO Summit held in The Hague on June 24 and 25 and to add to the ‘problems’ the closure of airspace over The Hague in anticipation arrivals

will coincide with the planned closure of the Buitenveldertbaan, a key Schiphol west-east runway that runs along and above the A4 motorway.

According to the Government of The Netherlands, they are expecting 45 heads of state,

along with their defence and foreign affairs ministers, as well as 6,000 delegation members and 2,000 journalists many of whom will travel on private or military jets.

Due to these arrivals and departures, summer season flights will be dropped from the sche -

Finland’s new minimum income

FINLAND is introducing a new minimum income threshold of €1,600 per month from January 1, 2025, for foreign workers applying for residence permits. According to the Finnish Ministry for Economic Affairs and Employment, the income limit applies exclusively to earnings from primary employment, excluding other forms of income. This measure ensures that workers have sufficient financial resources to avoid reliance on social assistance, as mandated by Finland’s Aliens Act. While the minimum threshold for most foreign workers is set at €1,600, income requirements vary across different job categories. According to a report by Business Day, specialist roles require a minimum monthly salary of €3,638. Seasonal workers must earn at

least €1,399. Minimum thresholds for other roles range from €1,030 to €3,638, depending on the job type and location.

The Finnish Immigration Service also stated that exceptions to these thresholds could be made in special cases, such as for the best interests of a child or for compassionate reasons.

The new threshold does not apply to asylum seekers or quota refugees. Individuals granted residence permits on compassionate grounds, plus family member of Finnish citizens are also exempt.

For those already holding residence permits, the new €1,600 monthly threshold will also apply to permit extensions starting in April 2025. Failure to meet the requirement will reportedly result in rejection of renewal applications.

dule during this period, to guarantee NATO delegation members are “properly” received, ac -

cording to a spokesperson. Time will tell whether the cancellation of so many holiday and commercial flights will only have a minimal effect on the airport, as suggested by a government spokesperson, but if that is the case, environmentalists might suggest that there are too many flights in the first place!

Expect cancellations at Schiphol Airport in late June.

Motorcycle ITV centre in Spain.

AXARQUÍA - MÁLAGA EAST

Socially stepping out

THE Shamrock Roamers Walking Club meet three times a week for adventures around the Axarquia countryside.

They have regular walking tours that are open to new participants in the New Year.

Join John Keo, the walk’s guide and other regular hikers up to three times a week to go walking and hiking in various zones for three-hour stints as part of the club.

On Tuesdays at 9.30 the group gathers at Marazul Fitzgerald’s in Nerja and walk the Nerja countryside.

On Thursdays Maro is the focus of the walk, with the group meeting at Nerja Caves Carpark in Maro at 10.30am.

And finally on Fridays from 10am

the group meets at Plaza 3 Culturas to experience Frigiliana’s beautiful green spaces.

The organisers say these walks are a great way to meet new people, have a chat and a bite to eat.

The Shamrock Roamers also said “You learn some interesting history and knowledge, keep fit and discover more about your favourite corner of Spain.”

You do not need to reserve to take part in the tour, just turn up. There is a €10 charge for the walk and a €15 charge if you want to have lunch too.

To explore the most beautiful parts of the municipality, which are just off the beaten track, visit John Keo Walking Tours on Facebook.

Listen and Love Latin Jazz: Nerja

TAKE a Jazz Journey with the Bernaldez Latin Jazz Orchestra as their show ‘A night in Havana’ is sure to be a musical experience to remember.

The eight professional musicians are playing the greatest hits of Latin Jazz for audiences Saturday, January 18 at 8pm in the Centro Cultural Villa De Nerja.

The band have said that their music takes “the audience back to the wonder years in Cuba through genres such as Cha cha chá, Mambo, Bolero and Salsa.”

They’ll play timeless songs such as Me lo dijo Adela, Rico Vacilón, Así se compone un Son, filled with joy and upbeat rhythms that keep their audience rapt.

The Bernaldez Latin Jazz Orchestra was founded in 2010 by the pianist, teacher and musical director José Manuel Bernáldez.

It is made up of eight professional musicians who play everything from a guitar, trumpet, piano and drums to the violin in

the traditional Hispanic style, of the 40s and 50s.

The Orchestra have accumulated an extensive artistic career that stands out because of the success of their concerts.

They have had tours in theatres, auditoriums and national concert halls, as well as their performances on board the Al Andalus luxury train and TVE series.

The concert is normally just over an hour and a half long. Tickets will be made available online very soon.

Enjoy January

Abigail Frazer

THERE are musical events for you to enjoy throughout January at the renovated Camping Nerja’s Villa del Mar. Boogey away this January at Villa del Mar, situated in the countryside of Mora and Nerja, they have the perfect spot to soak up music, enjoy spectacular views and have live acts in January.

Every Sunday they put on their Sunday Boozy Brunch Pool Party, in their newly refurbished heated

pool and have a different act each week.

January 5, there’s Sandy Lawrence also known as the Duchess of Nerja, she will be performing live from 1pm till 4pm but the heated pool, music, cocktails and delicious food will be available from 11am.

January 13, Alberto is back by popular demand. He is known for playing fantastic classic covers and has made his own music too. He’ll be by the pool from 1pm singing live and again the pool

Best tapas in town

HERE are the award-winning tapas restaurants you need to try on the Tapas Route in Rincon de la Victoria.

Twenty-eight restaurants took part in a Tapas Route initiative organised by the Rincon de la Victoria Town Hall.

The route was a competition to find the best tapas in town with the top three winning restaurants sharing €3,000 in prize money between themselves.

The best restaurants have been announced:

First prize went to Alma Playa who won

will be open from 11am for food and drinks.

Eliza Handley will be performing on January 19 with her unique sound, she has some fantastic covers on her SoundCloud of well-known tracks like wicked game. She’ll be performing for attendees from 1-4pm.

January 26, there’s the Sunday boozy party with Jason Lawless, who’ll be singing all your favourite songs from over the decades again from 1pm.

Visit Camping Nerja’s website to reserve a spot.

€1,000 and a trophy for their offering of Tripe Cannelloni with mushroom béchamel. Judges ruled that it was a “creation noted for its flavour, presentation and originality.”

Second prize was gained by Liceo Playa who won €700 and a trophy. Their winning tapas were Curried Goat Gyozas with mango and sweet chili. The judges highlighted “the combination of local produce with an international recipe.”

The third prize was won by LaCaliza, they

were given €500 and a trophy, their winning combination was Brioche with confit suckling lamb. Judges said that it was “A dish renowned for its balance of flavours” and that they were given excellent service.

Finally, the Al Patio restaurant was the public’s favourite and as a result won €500.

The mayor of Rincon de la Victoria, Francisco Salado said he was “enormously satisfied” with the initiative which generated over €25,000 for the local economy.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock Go My Media.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Photo Credit: Abigail Frazer

Photo Credit: Ayuntamiento Rincón de la Victoria.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock Tsuguliev

Your

VOICE

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?

What is your resolution for the year 2025?

AS the clock struck 12 on December 31, people around the world welcomed the New Year with hopes, dreams and annual traditions. Some traditions are unique to each country - in Spain, for instance, people hope to bring themselves luck in the upcoming year by eating 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock, or wearing red underwear. However, one tradition practised all over the world and carried into the New Year is making New Year’s resolutions.

From pledges to exercise more, or spend more time with loved ones, these yearly commitments offer a fresh start and a chance for self-improvement. We asked our Euro Weekly News readers whether they make New Year’s resolutions, and what promises they have made to themselves for the New Year.

A common resolution is to break a bad habit, whether it be smoking, drinking, or indulging in a sweet treat a little too often. However, Sian Agombar takes a different approach, recalling her resolution for 2024, which was to try a new restaurant every month. She found it to be “more successful than trying to give up something.”

Kenneth Faktor Carslund, on the other hand, sees little value in resolutions. In his view, it’s best to always try and be the best version of yourself and, if you need to make any changes

Frozen in time

FOR the 35th consecutive year the world-famous ice hotel has been built in Sweden’s Jukkasjärvi.

Taking six weeks to build by 26 artists from around the world, the hotel has 12 suites each with their own ice sculptures and theme.

Celebrated as the world’s first and largest Ice Hotel it was first constructed back in 1989 and is situated next to a beautiful river in the Swedish countryside.

Room designs change every year and this year there are motifs from ancient Greek myths, with ice sculptures of a redeyed Minotaur and a beautifully carved Greek ship.

There’s a suite called Flight where small bird sculptures hover around a solid ice bed and another quirky suite called

Whoops Wrong Room where an icy Rhino appears to have crashed through the wall.

With new sculptures every year, taking a trip to visit this hotel is genuinely a once in a life-time experience.

Ice Hotel said that they are “a bucket list staple for every Arctic adventure.”

Every spring the hotel is allowed to melt away, so that next year the space can once again be filled with new and exciting Ice art.

As well as the winter suites, there is an all-year-round hotel - Ice Hotel 365, wilderness camping and cabin experiences for anyone looking to book a trip to Sweden after spring comes.

The hotel has their own onsite restaurant and ice bar on site and there are daily exhibitions of the art in the winter ice suites.

for self-improvement, “why wait for New Year.” He explains that if you force yourself to make a change, “you’re setting yourself up for failure in most cases.” Rodrigo J Da Silva disagrees, asserting that “you absolutely have to force yourself to do things, otherwise nothing ever gets done.”

Several readers, including Brian Francis, Tim McMahon and Gerry Wright, say that their New Year’s resolution is simply to not make any resolutions. This is certainly an easy one to keep!

Susan M Edwards Brigham, who never makes resolutions, prefers to remain hopeful and optimistic instead by wishing and praying for the best in the year ahead. Shirley Morris also avoids making resolutions, as they are “made to be broken.”

Irish-Artist Michael shares his very positive resolution - “to keep moving forward and challenge myself to do something creative and productive!”

This week’s poll question received mixed responses, with several readers avoiding resolutions, and pointing out the difficulty in sticking to them throughout the year. In the end, whether you make resolutions or not, the New Year is an opportunity for reflection, growth, and the hope of a fresh start, and we wish all our readers the very best of luck in the year ahead.

Reaching boiling point

STAFF at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, have reported increasing aggression towards themselves from passengers over the reintroduction of liquid restrictions.

Although the changes have been effective since September and the airport has released communications to inform people about the restrictions, staff say confusion is common. This confusion ‘leads to irritation’ and sometimes aggression.

The airport had previously been able to relax the rules due to installing advanced C3 scanners. This meant passengers could carry a much greater volume of liquids.

The reduction back to 100 ml is not due to any change in threat levels but to achieve compliance with recent European Union guidelines.

Olivier Jankover, Director General for the International Airports Council in Europe (ACI) provided the following statement about

the changes:

“Security is non-negotiable, it is at the very top of priorities for Europe’s airports. However, the fact remains that those airports which have been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily pe-

nalised both operationally and financially.”

Other European airports which had installed the advanced scanners allowing passengers to carry more liquids before the ruling include Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Malta.

Myth and Legends at Sweden’s Ice Hotel.

DENMARK

Go fish

GREY silverfish are relatively new to Europe and, entomologists said, entered Denmark via Norway after first arriving in Germany in 2007, camouflaged in packaging materials. Unfortunately, the wingless insects, believed to have originated in South Africa, thrive at room temperature and are hard to eliminate, experts said.

Work for it

A LAW passed in December will oblige longterm unemployed foreign residents to carry out some kind of work if they wish to avoid losing benefits. The new regulations apply to those who have not lived in Denmark for nine of the last 10 years or have not been in full-time jobs for at least 30 months over the past decade

PORTUGAL

Oscar hope

PERCEBES (Goose Barnacles), directed by Laura Gonçalves and Alexandra Ramires, is included in the list of Academy Awards finalists competing in the Animated Film category. The film, which follows a goose barnacle’s life cycle, won the Short Film section at the Annecy Film Festival in France last June.

Parties end

THE Tupperware factory in Montalvo announced that it will close on January 8, with the loss of approximately 200 jobs. The factory opened in 1980 and was entirely owned by the parent company, which filed for bankruptcy in September 2024 after plastics and the direct-selling system and parties lost their appeal.

EURO PRESS

ITALY

English spoken

THE 2024 Education First review of worldwide English-language skills ranked Italy 46th out of the 116 countries surveyed, with Verona having a higher level of English than any other Italian city. Overall number one spot went to the Netherlands, followed by Norway and Singapore, with Yemen at the bottom of the list.

BELGIUM

Happy New Year

Photo credit: CC/Ralph PH

WAGES will rise by 3.58 per cent for 532,000 employees in January, owing to a programmed adjustment for inflation calculated on the inflation rate for December, which remained stable at 3.16 per cent. The pay increase will apply to white collar workers in sectors that range from publishing to call centres.

Baudoin study

VERONA: No communications problems for English-speaking visitors

IRELAND FINLAND

Too fast

A MOTORIST clocked at 150 kilometres an hour in an 80-kilometre zone in County Limerick was one of the 1,200 drivers who were flagged down for speeding offences over the pre-Christmas weekend, police reported. The gardai also arrested 101 people for driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Spain beckons

OWING to planning issues and the strain on Ireland’s grid, data centre operators are looking abroad for sites for the high-consumption installations that account for 18 per cent of electricity output. Spain, with greater access to sustainable energy, also offers more incentives while fast-tracking permit applications.

GERMANY FRANCE

Will-power

PIERRE CARDIN died childless and intestate in 2020 at the age of 98, bequeathing a legal battle to 22 family members claiming his fortune. An 11-line, unsigned document found in 2022 named nephew Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin as his sole heir and a Paris court will shortly announce if this is acceptable as a will.

Going nuclear

THE third-generation European pressurised nuclear reactor (EPR) in Flamanville (Normandy), France’s largest to date, finally began producing electricity for local homes on December 21. Countless technical setbacks have caused a 12-year delay and quadrupled the original overall cost to €13.2 billion.

First in line

POLICE were sent out in the early hours of December 22 after a worried woman saw a child sleeping outside a Dortmund kindergarten. They found a four-year-old who told them that she had crept out of the house while her parents were asleep as she wanted to be the first to enter when the doors opened.

Dodgy sale

BMW confirmed a report by US publication Business Insider that the carmaker had sold more than 100 luxury vehicles to Russian buyers despite sanctions introduced following the Ukraine invasion. The “irregularities” were the responsibility of employees at its Hanover branch, who now been dismissed, BMW said.

Holiday rush

FINLAND’S postal service, Posti, delivered 7 million parcels and 10 million greetings cards in the five weeks before the Christmas holidays. While most were delivered on time, cards and parcels with unclear addresses or those posted after the deadlines would arrive in the New Year, Posti sources said.

Above board

HELSINKI police said there was no insider trading involved in draft legislation for nicotine pouch flavours, which included four types made by only one manufacturer. A business rival claimed they were added by an aide to the former Education minister, to favour a factory in her home town.

NETHERLANDS

Unwanted guests

THE Schieland en Krimpenerwaard water board said that urgent action should be taken to eradicate the non-native American crayfish damaging vital weirs and locks. Talking to the NOS broadcaster, the water board officials also warned that the crayfish were damaging plants and threatening native fish.

Silent enemy

IN recent years, more than 40,000 people have been affected by a variant of the Infostealer virus that collects personal information and passwords by infecting a computer or telephone, RTL Nieuws said. Infections are rising and victims are unaware that they have been hit and their details are being misused.

A VATICAN committee will deliberate whether King Baudoin (1930-1993) should be beatified, the first step towards sainthood. Pope Francis believes the late king should be honoured in this way owing to his stance against abortion in 1990 when he refused to sign legislation decriminalising voluntary terminations.

SWEDEN

Cold comfort

ANALYSIS of data from 120,000 heart attacks in Sweden between 2005 and 2019, combined with weather reports, showed that heart attacks increased two days into a cold spell. Investigators saw fewer links with the change itself but found that heart attacks increased once freezing temperatures had set in.

Stressed moose

SWEDEN has more than 200,000 moose but biologists said that climate change is reducing the birth rate amongst them, and they are producing smaller calves. Moose suffer heat stress once temperatures rise above 14C, they explained, they eat less and fail to put on enough weight to sustain them in the winter.

NORWAY

Hit the road

TWO British tourists stopped while driving a hire car on the wrong side of the E6 in Vaernes said they thought all vehicles drove on the left in Norway, unlike elsewhere in Europe. Officers pointed out that they were lucky not to have caused a collision and gave them a quick rundown on traffic regulations.

Pay slips

A SURVEY by Statistics Norway (SSB) revealed that 44 per cent of immigrants were not happy about their economic situation and 40 per cent admitted they would be unable to pay a large, unplanned-for bill. The SSB also found that immigrants from Africa or Asia were less financially satisfied than those from Europe.

Duke to step down

IN his Christmas Day speech Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg announced his abdication in October 2025.

The 69-year-old has said, in what is his last Christmas broadcast to the nation that he will abdicate so that his son might assume the throne late next year.

His son Guillaume, 43, currently LieutenantRepresentant, has been taking on some of his father’s duties in recent months and will assume his new title on October 3, 2025. During his Christmas

broadcast he said he was “proud to have been able to, together with the Grand Duchess, walk this path” with his nation.

And expressed that he had strived to speak out when the fundamental interests of his country and citizens were at stake.

He said he had paid particular attention “to the diversity of our population, the need for coexistence and sustainability in all areas of our society.”

The abdication has been rumoured since summer 2024 when the Grand Duke announced, at his

INTERVIEW

Increased fares

EVER since Bolt and Uber moved into Europe, licensed taxi drivers have been absolutely against complaints that they are unfair competition.

o cial birthday, that his son Guillaume would soon be taking on the role of Lieutenant- Representant.

Henri of Luxembourg will have been on the throne for 25 years next October, he became a Lieutenant-Representant in 1998 and ascended to the throne after his father’s abdication in October 2000.

He will step down just before what would have been his silver jubilee and has said that like the rest of his generation “the time has come to retire.”

Speaking European - Martine Meijn from Amsterdam

Former employee of AFC Ajax in Amsterdam, Martine Meijn, from the Netherlands, decided to leave everything behind in her home country and settle in Mijas, Malaga, and she now helps run the famous Donkey Dreamland sanctuary.

EWN: What made you decide to come to the Costa del Sol?

Martine: I travelled through Spain for seven months before arriving in La Cala de Mijas. I think north Spain is more beautiful, but colder. So, I decided to follow the coast to southern Spain.

EWN: How has been adapting to Spanish life?

Martine: Spanish timekeeping. In the Netherlands, when you meet, you are there five minutes before meeting time. I need to accept that. (She laughs).

EWN: How did you get involved with Donkey Dreamland?

Martine: I came as a tourist to do a donkey walk. Afterwards, I was as-

ked if I wanted to stay for a while to become a volunteer. That was one and a half years ago.

EWN: What are your hopes for 2025?

Martine: For Donkey Dreamland, I wish we could nd plenty of sponsors to help us with the care of our donkeys. Secondly, I hope that the animal welfare gets better. Personally, I hope to build a more personal life since I have no intention to leave anytime soon.

Donkey Dreamland is currently in desperate need of financial help to repair and rebuild some of its facilities. They have a GoFundMe page at gofund.me/163efc2b.

Some countries and cities have embraced their arrival whilst others have tended to make life difficult for them in order to protect the livelihood of licensed taxi drivers who have often made large investments in their vehicles and purchasing their licences in the first place.

Now the Berlin State Government has announced that it plans to introduce a minimum fare for all car-sharing services, so although it isn’t singling out Bolt and Uber it certainly looks as if they will have to increase their minimum fares in order to comply with any new regulations.

It’s good news for the taxi services and in some ways will boost car-sharing companies and their drivers incomes, but as is so often the case with protective legisla-

tion, it will certainly see consumers having to pay higher prices or look for alternatives methods of transport.

Not unsurprisingly, the Taxi and Rental Car Association of Germany has indicated its support for the measure but backed by their international parents, it is likely that the main players will take legal action to try to stop or dilute the legislation.

Already, a similar case was lodged in Leipzig and the Court there ruled in favour of the legislation although it criticised the rates being imposed.

Martine Meijn, from Donkey Dreamland.

Credit: MM

Bolt is one of the two main car-sharing services in Berlin.

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Tip-off

EMPLOYEES working in exclusive London restaurants like the Savoy Grill and the Ivy claim that their cover charges do not go to workers. Unions said they are considering legal action following last October’s legislation that obliges business owners to hand over all tips, service charges and cover charges to staff.

Still growing

SPAIN’S gross domestic product grew by 0.8 per cent duringthethirdquarterof2024 thanks to increased consumer spending, latest figures from Statistics Institute (INE) showed. Analysts predicted that the economy will have grown by 3.1 per cent by the end of the year, compared with 2.7 per cent in 2023.

Safe hands

TONI RUIZ, chief executive of fashion chain Mango, will take over as interim chairman following the death of founder and principal shareholder Isak Andic in a hiking accident in Montserrat (Cataluña) on December 14. Ruiz, 55, who owns 5 per cent of Mango’s capital, has been employed by the retailer since 2015.

Foot sore

HIGH street footwear retailer Shoe Zone, which has 297 stores and 2,250 employees, announced store closures following the impact of the autumn budget. Expected pre-tax profits of around £5 million (€6 million) for the year ending September 2025 are down from its previous £10 million (€12 million) forecast.

Quiz time

QUIZ CLOTHING plans to exit from London’s junior stock market (AIM) as the chain of 60 UK stores struggles to maintain buoyancy. Delisting would be best for the company and its shareholders, Quiz said, with founder Tarak Ramzan and his family, together with other major investors voting to leave AIM.

STAT OF WEEK

TDR CAPITAL, which owns 67.5 per cent of supermarket chain Asda, has given up control of Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten.

The London-based private equity firm bought 80 per cent of Hurtigruten in a 2014 “take-private” transaction. Since then, the shipping company founded in 1893 has developed into one of Norway’s biggest domestic ferry operators, and also organises Northern Lights cruises.

At the same time, TDR suffered important losses after providing Hurtigruten with £310 million (€375 million) to survive the pandemic and the Norwegian company has a debt pile that has swollen to £1.16 billion (€1.4 billion). As a result, the company reported interest repayments totalling £177.6 million (€214 million) in 2023, plus a £57.9 million loss (€69.8 million).

TDR is now relinquishing its Hurtigruten holding and will hand over to creditors who include London-headquartered Arini Capital

SCRANTON ENTERPRISES, the holding company owned by various directors of Catalan pharmaceuticals company Grifols, has additional interests outside pharmaceuticals.

These include the Juve & Camps cava bodega and, according to sources quoted in financial daily Cinco Dias, Scranton is looking for an investor for the upmarket label.

The Grifols holding company acquired its Juve & Camps stake in 2017 by

€1.25 billion

paid by BBVA, Merlin and San Jose, the three partners of Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte, to acquire land for their development programme in the Spanish capital.

Leaving Norway

Management and AlbaCore Capital, as well as the US global investment management firm Barings. Letting go of Hurtigruten will allow TDR to concentrate on other portfolio companies which include Asda. After buying out Zuber Issa’s stake in June this year, TDR is now a majority shareholder with Moshin Issa and Wamart Inc holding the remaining Asda shares.

Plagued by under-investment and weak management, the UK’s third-largest supermarket chain’s market share now stands at 12.8 per cent, compared with 14.8 per cent when TDR first acquired its stake. Confronted with a debt pile of approx £6 billion, TDR has brought in Allan Leighton, a former Asda chief executive, in hopes of reviving the ratailer’s flagging fortunes.

Grifols sells some fizz

snapping up the shares belonging to the Rosal Juve branch of the ca-

va-producing family.

Insiders explained that the Grifols executives hope

Iberdrola go-ahead Case study

ONLY 5.8 per cent of student loans were paid over the past five years, and millions still owe £50,000 (€60,196).

The largest sum that a graduate has ever repaid amounted to £137,000 (€166,136) although another currently owes a record £252,554 (€304,059), which the National Union of Students (NUS) said was “truly alarming.”

Despite the loans, a recent NUS survey found that 17 per cent of students resorted to food banks.

SPANISH energy company Iberdrola has cleared the final hurdle towards obtaining 100 per cent of its US subsidiary, Avangrid.

Following previous consent from the Federal and Maine regulators, the New York regulator has now approved Iberdrola’s application to acquire the 18.4 per cent of the sustainable energy company not in its hands.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Avangrid shareholders will receive $35.75 (€34.33) each for their shares, which will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Those with holdings on December 2, 2024, will receive their quarterly dividend in January, and Avangrid will in future operate as a private company, maintaining its headquarters in Connecticut.

PONTEGADEA, the company that manages Amancio Ortega’s property investments, announced £18.1 million (€21.8 million) losses for subsidiary Pontegadea UK in 2023

The first time without a profit for the company the Inditex mogul created in 2014, the 2023 dip was attributed to the increased provisions for deterioration that Pontegadea UK made on its British property investments in 2023.

These provisions rose to £65.6 million (€79.2 million), 40 per cent more than in 2022 when Pontegadea’s £1.2 million (€1.4 million) profits were the lowest to date.

THAMES WATER, notorious for sewage leaks, allegedly redirected millions earmarked for environmental cleanups to other uses.

in this way to bring in some extra cash in an attempt to reduce Scranton’s debts, as it has done with other disinvestments in the past.

Juve & Camps posted sales of €25 million and a net profit of €300,000 in 2022, the last year with available figures.

Scranton, a 75% stakeholder in the company, can expect to make €80 million out of the transaction.

Pronovias strategy

PRONOVIAS will finish 2024 in the red for the eighth consecutive year.

This is also the wedding dress company’s first full year with the US investment firm, Bain Capital, which took over in April 2023.

The Catalan company has reported consolidated losses of €128.5 million, well above the €98 million forecast in May, and resulting from a 2017 overvaluation of intangible assets when the company was transferred to former owners BC Partners.

“2024 has been a transition year, introducing measures for reorganising the business model in line with our 2025-2027 strategic plan,”

Pronovias sources said, predicting a recovery in 2025.

Thames Water cut back on improvements following secret discussions to gauge the risks of taking the funds.

The UK’s biggest water company with 16 million customers paid “hundreds of thousands” in bonuses and “tens of millions” in dividends as recently as March, the Guardian claimed on December 13.

The company now needs £3 billion (€3.6 billion) in emergency funding and £3.25 billion (€3.9 billion) equity investment to avoid collapse.

AVIVA, a FTSE 100 company and the UK’s largest insurer, is paying £3.7 billion (€4.5 billion) for rival insurer, Direct Line.

It is offering £2.75 (€3.31) in stock and cash for every Direct Line share while making the deal more attractive to Aviva shareholders by increasing planned dividends.

The companies plan to save £125 million (€150.5 million) by cutting between 5 and 7 per cent of their combined 33,000 workforce, affecting up to 2,300 jobs over the next three years.

Photo credit: Juve y Camps

CATALUÑA BODEGA: Grifols seeks a buyer for its Juve y Camps stake

HURTIGRUTEN: Asda owner, TDR relinquishes its stake in Norwegian company

3I Group 3.581,00 3.581,00 3.559,00 294,08K

Group 2.624,0 2.637,0 2.614,0 56,68K Airtel Africa 112,80 112,90 106,90 2,47M

American 2.381,5 2.384,0 2.329,5 2,55M Antofagasta

1.634,00 1.618,00 129,49K

Group 4.948,0 5.010,0 4.943,0 145,56K

British Foods 2.043,0 2.071,0 2.043,0 211,99K

10.436,0 10.498,0 10.436,0 754,28K

Trader Group Plc 793,80 793,80 784,20 421,01K Aviva 463,10 464,60 461,60 1,52M B&M European Value Retail SA 366,90 367,80 359,50 2,65M BAE Systems 1.158,50 1.170,50 1.154,00 953,89K

263,55 264,05 262,40 8,3M

Redrow 432,20 434,80 428,20 1,25M

Beazley 815,00 834,50 813,00 205,21K

Berkeley 3.896,0 3.912,0 3.856,0 89,44K

BP 381,25 383,45 381,25 13,68M

American Tobacco 2.880,0 2.893,0 2.876,0 586,44K BT Group 144,00 144,50 143,05 4,14M

3.304,0 3.324,0 3.304,0 175,54K

129,00 129,00 127,85 2,87M

2.726,0 2.708,0 329,93K

2.645,00 2.656,00 2.645,00 552,95K

Euro

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.83 to £0.82

EUR/USD: Down from $1.05 to $1.03

Over the past four weeks, the euro has struggled to hold its ground.

Escalating tensions between Russia and the West, coupled with fragile Eurozone economic data acted as key headwinds for the single currency, as did the political uncertainty that followed the collapse of the French government.

Surprisingly, the euro managed to rally in response to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) final interest rate decision of the year. Despite the bank cutting rates and signalling more monetary easing would be needed in the coming months.

Currency outlook: US dollar turbocharged by ‘Trump trade’, euro knocked by tariff fears

The euro is likely to get off to a weak start in 2025, assuming the US dollar continues to strengthen and the ECB delivers another rate cut following its January policy meeting.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.19 to €1.21

GBP/USD: Unchanged at $1.26

Trade in the pound was uneven over the past four weeks,

with some mixed UK economic releases infusing volatility into the currency throughout December.

This was compounded by some mixed signals from the Bank of England (BoE), with the bank ultimately leaving interest rates on hold this month, but with a growing number of policymakers calling for the BoE to ease its monetary policy again.

UK economic releases are

likely to be closely watched by GBP investors over the coming weeks. Expect to see the pound struggle if these continue to raise concerns over the UK’s economic trajectory.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Up from £0.78 to £0.79

USD/EUR: Up from €0.94 to €0.96

The US dollar struck new

multi-year highs against many of its peers over the past month.

Additional tariff threats from Donald Trump provided a strong base for the US dollar. These gains were then reinforced by the Federal Reserve, as markets were taken by surprise by just how hawkish the bank was in its outlook for 2025.

Looking ahead, the US dollar looks poised to extend its momentum into the new year, with the start of Trump’s second term as President likely to help stoke USD demand in the coming weeks.

Currencies Direct have helped over 430,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

The euro is likely to get off to a weak start in 2025.

A happy new year

LEAPY LEE SAYS

IT

OTHERS THINK IT

WELL, here we go again. Another 12 months bites the dust. If I make it through to July I’ll actually be entering my 86th year on this spinning ball of often impenetrable mystery. To be honest, ageing itself is truly weird and can often be quite bizarre. Oddly the human mind still appears to be a young explorer of this ever-evolving environment, unfortunately at my age one only has to glance in the mirror to observe the structure it’s been travelling in is preparing for the yard of the knackers!

The one real advantage you have over many members of the human race is of course experience. It’s not exactly being higher in the intelligence stakes, it’s simply that you’ve been around longer. Although I had no idea what they were essentially talking about, my interest in politics actually goes as far back as the 1940s. At the age of seven or eight, I can still remember

Mum quite often remarking that she would always vote Labour as she thought they were ‘good to the poor’. I also recall that Dad never joined in the conversation, so he must have been simply not interested or merely retained different ideas. I’m obviously my father’s son! Over my many years I’ve experienced a number of UK Labour governments, generally a bunch of incompetent chancers that I maintain, apart from their one true success of the NHS introduction, have always been utterly useless to the country I loved. I’ve watched them assure the public how they were going to ‘fix everything’, guaranteed they would ‘save the nation’, preened like primal Madonna’s and were voted in simply because many enthusiasts were too young to remember what they were capable of the last time. In fact, I’ve never truly supported any of the British political parties. Without exception their main objectives have always been power, media publicity and the feathering of their own nests. The authorities and the way the politicians ran the

whole caboodle were my true reasons for never returning to the old country; subsequently, with this bunch of falsifiers and propaganda mad culturists now running it into the dirt, I’m more than delighted to reside in Spain; a nation which, although at this time are actually finding it difficult to give any of the political classes absolute power, is still somewhere I can sit and enjoy the good company of indigenous locals, with families and friends sharing the good things that a peaceful and so far non over run populace has to offer.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and trouble-free new year and may we hopefully watch the rest of the so-called free world experience precisely the same consequence. Hang in there; unfortunately for many of the planet’s population there’s still a long way to go. Thanks for all your good wishes and support of the old blurb. Means a lot.

Keep the faith Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@hotmail.com

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Fines for stealing heating

EVER heard of ‘thermal parasitism’? Residents in Poland are facing fines of up to PLN 500 (€117) for failing to maintain minimum heating requirements in their apartments.

The move, reported by Gazeta Prawna, aims to combat ‘thermal parasitism’, where individuals turn off their heating and rely on warmth from neighbouring flats.

The Polish government has set specific temperature standards to ensure fair heating practices and avoid strain on the infrastructure. Residential areas require a minimum of 20°C, while bathrooms a minimum of 24°C.

Some housing cooperatives allow temperatures as low as 16-17°C, but exceeding this limit may result in penalties. Inspectors are conducting routine temperature checks in apartments during the heating season to ensure compliance.

The introduction of fines addresses several challenges caused by inadequate heating, such as residents relying on communal heat, which then raises overall energy expenses for others.

Heating bills can become disproportionately distributed among tenants. Also, lower temperatures can lead to dampness and mould, risking long-term damage to buildings.

Are you struggling with alcohol use?

A New Year brings a new opportunity.

As the festive season fades into memory, many of us look back on the holidays with mixed emotions. For some, it was a time of joy and celebration; for others, it might have been marked by overindulgence, regret, or moments of discomfort around alcohol.

The parties, family gatherings, and social events of December often create a culture where excessive drinking feels normalised. It’s easy to dismiss a nagging sense of unease about your alcohol use when everyone around you seems to be indulging too.

But now that January is here, it’s an opportunity to

pause and reflect. Has your drinking left you feeling out of control? Did the holiday season bring arguments, missed obligations, or emotional turmoil caused by alcohol? Are you struggling to stop now that the festive distractions have passed? If any of this resonates, you’re not alone. Recognising the impact alcohol is having on your life is the first step toward change. For many, the thought of life without alcohol can feel overwhelming. It’s not uncommon to wonder how you’d cope, socialise, or find enjoyment without it. But countless people have found a way to break free from alcohol’s grip, and you can too.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one such resource. AA provides a supportive, judgement-free community of people who’ve faced similar struggles. Through shared experiences, they’ve discovered that life without alcohol isn’t just possible - it’s liberating. Here, two members of AA share their journeys:

“My name is Daniel. Throughout my drinking I would often injure myself whilst in ‘blackout’. After each injury I would stop drinking for a period, then start again with some controlled drinking, until before long I was back to normal.

“The turning point came in 1999, after a heavy night of

drinking in a bar in Galway, Ireland. I woke up with a profound sense that I had, or was, crossing a line. This led me to my first meeting, in a small intimate room with around 16 people. I was told before I entered that I did not need to say I was an alcoholic and that the only requirement for attendance was a desire to stop drinking.

“The people who spoke that night were honest and kind, my gratitude to them is impossible to quantify. As they suggested, I kept coming back! Alongside the 12 steps of recovery this has led to 25 years of sobriety.”

“Hello, I am Jennifer. My rock bottom came in 1995. I

weighed about seven stone; I was not able to hold food down. I was fired from my job and had lost my home. I had $10 and wo bags of clothes to my name. I was sick in every area of my life. I could not stop drinking on my own and I had little hope I was going to see another year.

“I heard about AA through a sober man I met, he took me to my first meeting and saved my life. I had no idea what to expect, my first few meetings were a blur, but I remember the warmth of the people, they hugged me and told me to keep coming back. My life now is so full. I have been sober for half of my life and I live one day at a time.”

Life without alcohol might seem unimaginable now, but many who’ve walked this path will tell you it’s worth it. You don’t have to struggle alone - help is just a call or a conversation away.

There are meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous held daily throughout the Costa del Sol. Meetings are free to attend, and anyone who thinks they may have a problem with alcohol is welcome. Call the English-speaking AA helpline for support: +34 600 379 110 or visit the website for help and information: www.aacostadelsol.com

Thermal parasitism.

Credit: Pexels, Patrycja Grobelny.

Did you know that more than 90% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the end of January?

Instead of making too many resolutions, why not focus on developing one simple habit?

FROM COAST TO COAST

HOW can you be part of the small percentage of goal achievers in 2025?

For starters, ditch one old habit you dislike and replace it with a new one. Simple swaps like this can set you up for success without feeling like you’ve signed up for emotional boot camp.

In a world where we’re told we can accomplish everything (no doubt), don’t overpack your shopping bag - or your schedule - and overwhelm yourself.

I’m a firm believer in “less is more.” So, why not start by decluttering patterns and habits that no longer serve you? Then, set one, two, or three manageable goals.

Why do we often fail at accomplishing new goals?

For one, we clutter our notepads with endless “I will do this and that…” lists. Instead, how about we change the way we think? Let’s evict old habits - especially the ones that overwhelm us with unrealistic expectations.

Take a different approach.

Jim Rohn wisely said:

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

It’s time to see yourself in a new light. Let go of what didn’t work - like tossing out clothes that never fit or colours that never flattered you but somehow made it into your closet because they were trendy or pushed on you by society.

UFOs spotted

MYSTERY has shrouded the skies over Belfast in 2024 after three ocial reports of Unidenti ed Flying Object sightings (UFO) in the Greater Belfast area.

The rst sighting of the year was in February, when a resident of Crumlin contacted the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) to report an object seen on January 29 with eight to ten lights around its perimeter.

Now’s the time to declare:

“Old negative thoughts and unrealistic goals - your lease is over!”

Be kind to yourself. Reflect on why past goals didn’t work. Then, take baby steps toward what you truly desire - starting with the quiet voice inside you. Yes, the one that’s been drowned out by social media, notifications, and people telling you what you should want.

This year, I’m committed to cleaning out my mental closet - the habits that stuffed it full of New Year’s resolutions - and starting fresh.

Experts say forming a new habit could take 18 days, 256 days, or an eternity (depending on your discipline and caffeine intake).

I used to play the piano. I remember the good old days when I’d lay my hands on those black-and-white keys and create colourful melodies. I felt so confident and free! But then life happened. I stopped playing for almost 20 years, and now I’m even afraid to turn on my keyboard - my fingers might creak, crack, and file a complaint with the Arthritis Association.

But as the saying goes: “Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle.”

So, I’ll start simple and small. Even if I tone down my expectations dramatically, my efforts - humble as they are - will follow me, step-by-step and little-by-little.

Not too many songs - just like goals. Focus on one well-achieved goal and make it the theme song of your life in 2025. Let it sound as beautiful as you hear it in your heart!

Can you rock that New Year’s resolution and keep it playing for at least 21 days? Happy 2025!

her camera in May and has seen it every night since. They described it as a bright light with holes on its underside.

The second incident occurred in the autumn, within Belfast’s urban area. On October 18, a witness described a UFO leaving a vapour trail, not entirely silent, as it ew over their house and towards the docks.

The third sighting was reported on October 27 by a resident of Newtownabbey. According to the report, his wife rst spotted the UFO through

GASTRONOMIC GLORY FOR CATALONIA 2025!

I’VE already written here about Madrid’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Well, Madrid isn’t the only centre of gastronomic excellence in Spain!

Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, famously clinched the prestigious title of Spanish Capital of Gastronomy last year. This vibrant city continues to dazzle visitors with its rich culinary traditions, cultural treasures and natural scenery.

Renowned for its gastronomic prowess, Oviedo boasts six protected designations of origin for its cheeses, wines and cider, alongside those for beans and beef. Judges were particularly impressed by Oviedo’s dynamic gastronomic events scheduled throughout the year. Additionally, the city’s burgeoning appeal as a tourist destination, coupled with the arrival of a high-speed train, resulted in easier access for visitors.

With its rich cultural heritage and exceptional hospitality sector, Oviedo still welcomes everyone seeking a feast for

The PSNI stated that all three reports this year were “noted for police information,” without indicating that any investigations had been conducted into the sightings.

The number of reports has uctuated since 2009, when the government’s UFO project was cancelled, citing that in over 50 years, none of the reports received had posed a threat.

While the police o cially recorded three reports in 2024, it is likely that more sightings go unreported due to fears of not being taken seriously. What is really crossing the skies over Belfast?

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

the senses.

And this year? Catalonia has o cially been awarded the title of World Region of Gastronomy 2025 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT). This title aims to highlight regions that actively contribute to improving the quality of life of their citizens by promoting dierent food cultures and gastronomic innovation. It’s a prestigious award by an independent, international jury of experts from elds such as tourism, culture, hospitality and agriculture.

Finally, I leave you with this: to paraphrase the L’Oréal strapline, both Oviedo and Catalonia really are worth it. Go there!

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. Pro ts to Cudeca cancer charity.

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

LUCCA MOVALDI PRESIDENT: AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL CLUB MARBELLA

NORA IS THE AUTHOR OF POPULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE AND CRIME THRILLERS AND A FREELANCE JOURNALIST.

Three UFO sightings in 2024.

Credit: Pexels/Alexandre P. Junior

• News from Our Other 6 Newspapers •

Costa del Sol

Local talent uncovered

THERE is a multi-prize-winning artistic talent in Calahonda who is beginning to take off on the local art scene.

Claire Yates has been living on the Costa del Sol for nearly 25 years. Her artistic skills and keen eye for the smallest detail lend her artworks a gentle sense of her own fun personal character to her pictures. Unlike the intensity of paintings by many photorealist artists, Claire’s art has a delicacy to it that not only visually expresses the subject of her paintings, but also tactility in the touch of the hair, the fur and even the fabrics that surround the central figures.

Born into a naturally talented family, Claire avoided the traditional artistic route and followed an education in textile design, an element that has imbued her works with a delicate tangible feel juxtaposed with shaded contrasts as sharp as the true contours of the figures she illustrates.

Costa Blanca North Javea Three Kings Festival

CHILDREN will wait with bated breath for the Three Kings to disembark at Javea port on January 5.

Melchior, Balthazar and Caspar, also known as the three wise men, bring the children of Spain presents every year in grand processions that run through the city streets.

Javea’s three kings religiously arrive by boat at the main port after having completed their long journey from the Orient.

This year on the port promenade there will be multiple children’s workshops and a storyteller to keep children busy as they wait for their arrival.

Children’s morning activities will start from 10.30am and continue till 1.30pm.

Additionally, there will be a raffle held for €1,500 worth of gifts in Javea Port during the morning activities.

The Three Kings will arrive to much pomp and circumstance at 5pm, where they will begin their procession to the Plaza del Convento.

Mallorca

ITV speeds up the waiting

BOOKING an ITV appointment is always a challenge on the island, waiting lists are long and many people drive around with an expired ITV because they can’t find any available date.

For this reason, the Consell de Mallorca is taking its New Year’s resolutions seriously and, from January 1, will go from 20,000 annual technical vehicle inspections (ITV) to 40,000, an annual increase of 35 per cent.

This is possible thanks to three reasons: 55 new staff additions, the opening of the new station in Son Bugadelles de Calvia in the first weeks of January and a new system for booking appointments.

The appointment booking system will be through a new portal: ITV.Mallorca.es, which allows users to book a day and time slot and, most importantly, to make the payment to go directly to the inspection without having to go through the offices beforehand.

Costa Blanca South End-year success

THE tourism sector in Alicante Province closed the year on a strong note, maintaining the high levels of activity seen throughout most of 2024.

Occupancy rates on the Costa Blanca exceeded 80 per cent for New Year’s Eve, a figure that was well-received by local establishments. Although slightly lower than the previous year - when New Year’s Day fell on a Monday - this performance remained impressive. Inland accommodations also saw positive results, with occupancy reaching 74 per cent, nine points above the national average.

Mayte García, general secretary of the hotel association Hosbec, noted that coastal occupancy averaged around 80 per cent, with some destinations surpassing this percentage. She highlighted the stability achieved throughout the year, attributing it to the loyalty of visitors and efforts by establishments to improve their services and activities. High demand was not limited to the coast, as inland areas also experienced strong activity.

Almeria Race to Dakar

GINES BELZUNCES, a local from Huercal-Overa, is set to make history by becoming the first person from the town to compete in the legendary Dakar Rally in 2025. Known as one of the toughest races in the world, the Dakar Rally will be a big challenge, but Ginés is ready for it.

After taking part in the 2022 Rallye du Maroc, he’s been training hard to get even better and make sure he’s fully prepared for his Dakar debut. His hard work and passion for motorsport have made him a local inspiration.

The town hall of Huercal-Overa is cheering him on, wishing him the best of luck on this exciting adventure. They’re also encouraging everyone in town to follow along and support Ginés as he tackles each stage of the race. With the name of Huercal-Overa behind him, Ginés is all set to take on this incredible challenge, and the whole town is excited to see him race in one of the most famous events in the world.

Costa Calida

March of concern

RESIDENTS of San Javier took to the streets of Santiago de la Ribera on December 29 to voice their opposition to a proposed biogas plant in the El Mirador area in San Javier. With gas masks and the Requiem by Mozart playing in the background, they held a funeral march to highlight their concerns about air pollution, fearing it could impact the already troubled Mar Menor. The march, organised by the Stop Biogas Mar Menor platform, featured people holding candles as they gathered signatures to oppose the project.

The biogas plant, which would process animal waste, has raised alarms among locals, especially given the large number of pigs in the region of Murcia already. Environmental educator Pilar Rey pointed out that the Mar Menor area already houses over a million pigs, with the entire region’s population of pigs exceeding two million.

‘Windows to Wellness’

HERE’S to a New Year, my furry friend! To another year of belly rubs, playtime, treats, and endless love every day!

Fur-friendly first aid

A WELL-PREPARED first aid kit for your pet is essential for handling emergencies and minor injuries during travel or at home. Start with basic supplies: gauze pads, adhesive tape, and bandages to cover wounds. Include antiseptic wipes and spray to clean cuts and prevent infection. Tweezers and scissors are useful for removing splinters and cutting bandages.

Add a digital thermometer for monitoring your pet’s temperature, along with disposable gloves for hygiene. Saline solution can flush out debris from your pet’s eyes or wounds. A pet-safe styptic powder is crucial to stop minor bleeding from cuts or nail trimming accidents. Include hydrogen peroxide, as directed by your vet, to induce vo-

miting if your dog ingests toxins. Pack an emergency blanket to keep your dog warm if they’re in shock. Don’t forget any prescribed medications and a list of emergency contacts, including your vet’s information.

With these supplies, you’ll be prepared to handle most emergencies until professional help is available.

Bella’s pet-sitting

this year is all sorted!

BELLA’S owners take her with them whenever they can. But when they travel abroad on holiday it is best she stays at home. So, they use HouseSitMatch, finding free checked sitters via the website. It’s easy to do! Do you need pet-sitters this year?

HouseSitMatch Saves You Money - Pet-sitting is Free for Pet owners and Accommodation is free for Sitters

We remain true to our values, promoting collaborative exchange through our managed online system - 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 House-sitter or a Homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

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

3. Create a profile with photos

4. Sitters apply for the available house-sits, you hold a video interview via the site and match!

How does it work?

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

Trustpilot Testimonials - 4.9 / 5 Excellent

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!

Bella loves going with her owners but can’t travel with them abroad on holiday.

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CHARITY

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BLINDS

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PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

New Life Church Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us at our Sunday gathering. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. Sunday Service 11.00am; Prayer Meetings Wednesdays 11.00am; Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780 Email:  info@ nlcnerja.com Website: www. nlcnerja.com Facebook:www. facebook.com/nlcnerj

CHARITY Shop Pocapecunia we need things for the house/ kitchen, decoration, vases, plates, cups, saucers, kitchen tools, paintings, pottery pots and pans etc. Prolongacion Avd. Rodgriguez

CHURCH SERVICES

THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning at 9.30 we have an online ‘Zoom’ HC service - please contact Fr Nigel with an e-mail address if you would like to join us. Priest in Charge, Father Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House - 951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, e-mail: cofenerja@gmail.com

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INSURANCE

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GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

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SOLAR ENERGY

SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for Large Glazed Areas to Reflect Heat / Glare and Stop Furniture Fading and Still Keep The View. Save Heat in the Winter to Improve Your Living Environment. ian@ solarshadetinting.com Tel Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (258409)

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McGregor’s uncertain future

JOE ROGAN has cast doubt on Conor McGregor’s much-hyped return to the UFC. According to Rogan, the Irish superstar’s party-filled lifestyle suggests he may never fight again. McGregor, who last competed in 2021 and suffered a devastating leg injury, has repeatedly teased a comeback. Yet Rogan remains sceptical, hinting that McGregor’s current habits are incompatible with the disciplined life of a fighter. “I don’t know if Conor’s ever going to fight again,” he noted, pointing out how McGregor “is partying real hard.”

The hesitation around McGregor’s return centers on several factors. First, his high-profile injury has required lengthy rehabilitation, and it’s unclear if he’s fully recovered. Rogan also questions whether McGregor still has the mental drive to train intensively after years of physical and

emotional wear. Another sticking point is McGregor’s absence from the USADA testing pool, a mandatory requirement for any UFC comeback. His continued social media posts featuring training clips might excite fans, but they don’t confirm an official return. Opinions among supporters are split. Some side with Rogan, believing McGregor’s prime has passed and that his off-octagon lifestyle might permanently derail his fighting ambitions. Others

Red Bull’s Tsunoda snub

F1 FANS are fuming after Red Bull announced Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s teammate for 2025, leaving Yuki Tsunoda out of the picture. Despite stellar performances for AlphaTauri, now Racing Bulls, Tsunoda’s efforts have been overlooked, sparking a wave of criticism from fans and pundits alike.

argue that McGregor, once the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion, has both the talent and charisma to mount another comeback. Regardless of his next move, McGregor’s impact on mixed martial arts is indelible, transcending the sport and capturing global attention. For now, the question remains: will ‘The Notorious’ defy Rogan’s doubts and step back into the cage, or is his remarkable run truly at an end?

Tsunoda has had a standout 2024 season, defeating Lawson 6-0 in qualifying battles and earning high praise during the Abu Dhabi post-season test, where he drove the Red Bull RB20. Even Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko admitted Tsunoda impressed with his feedback and commitment. Yet, Red Bull cited Lawson’s ‘raw talent’ as the reason for their choice, despite Tsunoda’s loyalty and progress since joining the programme in 2021.

The announcement ignited outrage on social media, with hashtags like #JusticeForTsunoda trending on X (formerly Twitter). Fans expressed frustration, saying, “Yuki’s

Bernabéu rebrand

ble, but rumours suggest the Santiago Bernabéu could soon be known as ‘The Bernabéu’. For nearly 70 years, it has stood as a monument to the club’s rich heritage and a tribute to Santiago Bernabéu Yeste, who played for, managed, and presided over Real Madrid, driving them to greatness after the Spanish Civil War. Reports from Marca indicate the potential rebranding is driven by commercial opportunities. Shortening the name may appeal to a global audience, making marketing more streamlined while retaining a nod to the club’s storied past. However, for many supporters, the name ‘Santiago Bernabéu’ embodies decades of history, including six European Cups and 16 La Liga titles.

has hosted countless legendary matches, from Champions League thrillers to unforgettable El Clásicos. Fans revere its legacy, seeing it as the beating heart of Real Madrid, where ambition and success converge. No official statement has confirmed a change, yet the rumours spark debate between those who believe tradition should remain untouched and those who favour modernisation. As Real Madrid’s players prepare for their next La Liga clash against Valencia on January 3, talk of a rebrand underscores the club’s desire to balance respect for history with the realities of contemporary football. Whether it remains the Santiago Bernabéu or becomes ‘The Bernabéu’, its legacy will endure.

Scheffler misses start of

PGA

outperformed everyone and still doesn’t get the nod? What’s the point?” Others accused Red Bull of favouritism, questioning the fairness of the decision.

Tsunoda will remain with Racing Bulls in 2025, determined to prove his worth. Red Bull Principal Christian Horner acknowledged the backlash but defended the decision, stating, “Liam has immense potential. Yuki’s been fantastic, and he’s still a key part of our plans.”

As Lawson faces pressure to deliver alongside Verstappen, all eyes will be on Tsunoda to see if he can force Red Bull to reconsider in the future. For now, 2025 will be a decisive year for both drivers.

AN injury sustained while cooking Christmas dinner means world number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, will miss the PGA Tour season opener.

The 28-year-old golf champion badly cut his hand whilst preparing Christmas dinner.

Blake Smith, Scottie’s manager, said via the PGA Tour on Friday:

“On Christmas Day while preparing dinner, Scottie sustained a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from a broken glass. Small glass fragments remained in the palm which required surgery.”

Recuperation from this surgery means that Scheffler will miss The Sentry tournament, which is the season opener of the PGA tour plus the Sony Open. Both events take place in Hawaii.

Scheffler had an incredible year in 2024, winning seven PGA events including the Tour Championship. He also won this year’s Masters and picked up a gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.

The young golfer also won the Hero World Challenge and led Team USA to its 10th consecutive win at the Presidents Cup.

These are not the only major events to take place for Scheffler in 2024.

During the PGA Tour Championship the golfer was arrested on charges of assault which were later dropped. 2024 also saw the birth of his first child in May to his wife Meredith. Following his injury, Scheffler hopes to return to compete later in January 2025 at The American Express tournament at La Quinta, California.

Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC is in doubt.

The stadium’s legacy will endure.

Scottie Scheffler, champion golfer, misses out on start of 2025 PGA tour.

Credit: DP World Tour Facebook