Costa Calida 9 - 15 Jan 2025 Issue 2062

Cartagena’s Big Moment

“Deportiva Minera hosts historic match”

DEPORTIVA MINE

RA made history by bringing Real Madrid to Cartagena for a Copa del Rey match that lo cals will never forget. More than 13,000 fans packed the Estadio Mu nicipal Cartagonova on January 6, turning the day into a huge football celebration.

The most decorated club in world football, with 15 European Cups, showed their class. Stars like Modric, Valverde, and Camavinga led a commanding 5-0 win. Despite the scoreline, Deportiva Minera’s goalkeeper Fran Martínez put on a brave performance, keeping the result as respectable as possible.

in the national spotlight. Fans in the city also got a rare chance to see football legends like Solari and Roberto Carlos who also travelled with the Real Madrid squad.

The match created a media buzz, drawing over 100 journalists from across Spain and beyond. National broadcaster La 1 aired it live, putting Cartagena

The Real Madrid squad including players like Bellingham and Mbappe dedicated time to sign autographs and take selfies with the thousands of fans

that turned up at the airport.

Deportiva Minera, from the small village of El Llano del Beal with just 1,300 residents, earned their dream fixture by beating Deportivo Alavés in the previous round. A prematch tribute honoured former president Fulgencio Ortega Roca for his lifelong service to the club.

Cartagena’s local government recently invested over €127,000 to upgrade Deportiva Minera’s home ground, adding new turf, goals, and improved facilities, a boost for grassroots football.

Though the final score favoured Real Madrid, Deportiva Minera’s spirit and determination captured hearts around Spain.

New year, new arrivals

“First babies of 2025”

AINHOA LÓPEZ MARRERO has been announced as the first baby born in 2025 at the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia. Ainhoa arrived at 00.48 hours, weighing 3.245 kilos. She is the second child of Jorge and Cristina López, a couple from Puebla de Soto, who also have a four-and-a-halfyear-old son. Jorge recalled how they were getting ready for dinner on New Year’s Eve when Cristina began feeling contractions, prompting them to rush to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the first baby

born in Cartagena this year is little Thiago, who arrived at 01.41 hours at the Santa Lucía Hospital, weighing

3.4 kilos. His moms, Andrea and María, had been at the hospital since Monday due to high blood pressure.

Though the delivery was long and challenging, the couple shared that it was the best experience of their lives. Thiago, like Ainhoa, has an older sibling. Both babies are healthy, and their families are looking forward to returning home soon.

Holiday success

CARTAGENA has wrapped up one of its most successful Christmas seasons, with more than 70,000 attendees at the various Christmas events, which brought a great atmosphere to the streets. The celebrations, spanning over 300 events, included concerts, workshops, local crafts, and festive food, spread across the city’s historic centre and neighbourhoods.

Mayor Noelia Arroyo shared her pride in the season’s success, noting that the city’s varied programming made sure there was something for everyone. “We’ve given Cartagena the festive atmosphere it deserves,” she said. The highlight of the season was the Three Kings Parade, which featured 38 performances and over 500 participants, including actors and acrobats. Social media was filled with praise for this year’s event, calling it one of the best in recent years.

The holiday festivities also had a positive economic impact, with local businesses seeing a noticeable increase in foot traffic. This year’s Christmas season exceeded expectations, and it’s clear that Cartagena’s festive charm continues to grow.

Costa Calida • Issue No. 2062 • 9 - 15 Januar y 2025 FREE

FREI GRATIS GRATIS GRATIS

G F E GRATIS GRATUIT S G

Image: Facebook/Cartagena Town Hall

Record-breaking celebrations.

Three Kings celebration

THOUSANDS of people gathered in Cartagena on January 5 to welcome the Three Kings as they filled the city with magic and joy. Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar arrived by boat in the morning, docking at the port to cheers from excited families. Their day was packed with visits to spread happiness.

They stopped by Santa Lucía Hospital to

greet patients, spent time with children at the Casa Cuna, and visited elderly residents at the Hermanitas de los Pobres. Later, they headed to the Town Hall Square, where children eagerly handed over le tters filled with wishes.

Anticipation built for the grand evening pa rade. Music, lights, and performances filled the streets as the Kings rode on decorated floats.

They tossed sweets, chocolates, and teddies to delighted onlookers, creating a festive at mosphere.

The farewell featured a new touch. The Three Kings bid Cartagena goodbye from the Con sistorial Palace balcony, waving as fireworks illuminated the night sky.

They then set off to deliver gifts to homes across the city, bringing the festive season to a spectacular close.

Jackpot joy

THE 2025 Lotería del Niño (Children’s Lottery), the Christmas Lottery held on the day of the Three Kings, brought some good news to the Region of Murcia, with several towns winning

The second prize (06766) was sold in Mazarron at Loterías El Dólar and in Murcia City at L’Agustinica on Paseo de Florencia. Each shop sold 10 tickets, though the owner in Murcia

Spain adopts proton therapy

“New treatment to revolutionise cancer care”

SPAIN is gearing up to lead a bold new charge in the global fight against cancer, promising pinpoint precision and fewer complications.

A new proton-powered treatment, known as proton therapy, has just arrived in Spain, and it’s sparking hope everywhere. Unlike traditional radiotherapy (which uses photons), this supercharged method fires protons directly into tumours, stopping the radiation from spilling over into surrounding healthy tissue.

Ten new units are set to boost the Spanish frontline by 2026:

Right now, only two private centres in Spain offer proton therapy. But from 2026 onwards, that’s all set to change. A whopping 10 new facilities will open across the country, thanks in large part to a €280 million donation from the Fundación Amancio Ortega. Expect to see these high-tech centres sprouting in Galicia, Catalonia, Madrid, Andalucia, País Vasco, Valencia, and the Canary Islands.

Galicia on the go:

• The Galician unit in the north of Spain is tipped to be the first fully operational site, with doors flinging open in January 2026.

• The Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla in Santander is expected to follow suit that same year, giving more Spaniards public access to this revolutionary treatment.

Spain set to become a European leader.

So why the delay? The hefty cost of building and running these units - and the need for specialised staff - kept Spain trailing behind. But as oncologists see it, Spain will catapult from straggler to European leader in proton therapy in just a few short years.

Stay tuned for more updates - because this cancer-crushing journey is only just starting.

Free dental care in Spain

“Spain expands healthcare services”

FROM 2025, Spain’s national health system will begin offering free dental care, marking a major milestone in accessible healthcare. For the first time, dental services will be integrated into local health centres, providing much-needed relief for those who struggle to afford private treatment.

Initially, the programme will prioritise vulnerable groups, including children under

14, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities.

Low-income adults may also qualify for subsidised care, with eligibility determined by income relative to the minimum wage (SMI). This phased rollout reflects the government’s commitment to addressing health disparities while gradually expanding services.

The programme will cover essential treatments, such as emergency care, extractions, and minor surgeries, along

with preventative measures like cleanings for eligible groups. Screenings for oral cancer and biopsies will also be included, highlighting the initiative’s focus on both immediate needs and longterm health outcomes.

While the plan promises to transform oral healthcare accessibility, challenges remain. Adequate staffing, resource allocation, and public awareness campaigns will be critical to its success. The Ministry of Health has pledged to address these issues through collaboration with regional health authorities and dental professionals.

By making dental care free and accessible, Spain is taking a bold step toward a more equitable healthcare system. This initiative not only aims to improve oral health but also underscores the government’s dedication to reducing health inequalities and fostering a healthier, more inclusive society.

Returning unwanted gifts

DECEMBER is a time of gift giving; however, post-Christmas is also a time of returning those gifts to the shops they came from for a variety of reasons.

The most important thing is to know the returns policy of the establishment which may include, for example, original and undamaged packaging, a receipt, or whether a cash refund is given or a gift card of the same value of the article. In Spain, it is extremely rare that a shop would take back any product without proof of purchase, such as a paper receipt.

Another point to take into account is the condition of the products; since with any gift that has been used (or appears so), the return will be rejected.

The same goes for the packaging or box of the product: the store may request that the returned product is kept in its original box, as well as everything in it (such as cables, chargers, or spare parts). The store will need to resell the item, so it must appear as pristine as the day it was bought.

Some products have a returns deadline, such as some fashion stores which keep strict rules on this, as their turnaround could be just a few weeks, and that pullover you want to return might already be considered unsellable by the time you return it. Most will be between 30 to 60 days maximums and 14 days for purchases online.

Golden Visa scrapped

“What’s next for investors?”

SPAIN’S decision to pull the plug on the controversial ‘Golden Visa’ scheme has left potential investors and buyers scrambling to figure out what’s next. As of April 2025, this system - which allowed wealthy non-EU individuals to secure residency by investing heavily in property - will be no more.

The Golden Visa was the dream ticket for many looking to snap up a luxury home in Spain, but that door’s closing. From April, no more new visas will be issued under the scheme. However, if you’ve already got one in hand, you’re safe - for now. You’ll still be able to renew it as long as you tick the necessary boxes. read on to find out more.

First launched back in 2013, the Golden

Visa was designed to attract wealthy investors to Spain, particularly in the property market. However, under the new law published in Spain’s Official Gazette on January 3, 2025, the controversial scheme has been phased out as part of a broader set of judicial reforms. This marks the final nail in the coffin for the articles of the 2013 law that allowed non-EU foreigners to gain residency in exchange for big investments. Some are arguing that the Golden Visa boosted Spain’s economy, but others have slammed it for creating an exclusive residency system for the wealthy, often at the expense of the average EU citizen. Is ending this type of visa fair? Is this right for Spain’s economy? Or is it a move against business?

Credit: Shutterstock, Romberi

Reviving nature

THE regional government has started a project to restore the El Cabezo de El Palomar forest area in the El Valle y Carrascoy Regional Park, Murcia. A wildfire damaged the 14-hectare area. The restoration

plan includes removing burned plants to stop soil erosion, help new vegetation grow, and improve the environment.

The project will cost nearly €44,000, with 60 per cent funded by the EU’s FEDER program -

me. It’s expected to take two months. The work includes using the burned vegetation to create barriers that will prevent soil loss, especially in areas that often get heavy rainfall. These barriers, called fajinas and albarradas, will also protect nearby buildings.

The goal is to improve the soil, encourage natural regrowth, and make the area safer from future fires. The project will also make it easier to access the area for future management and restoration.

IN an effort to ensure safe flight operations, the Department of Environment has completed a bird census around the protected natural areas near the San Javier Air Base. The count, which recorded 7,713 wintering birds, spans a 13-kilometre radius from the base and includes spots like the Mar Menor, its islands, Las Encañizadas, and the San Pedro del Pinatar salt flats, among others.

The census, requested by the Air Force’s General Air Command, plays a vital role in managing wildlife and avoiding bird collisions with aircraft.

CLIMATE change is putting Murcia’s coastline at serious risk, with rising sea levels and saltwater affecting key areas like the Mar Menor, Cartagena, and Mazarron.

Flight plan Rising seas

A recent Greenpeace report warns that higher tides could flood coastal towns, damage homes, and hurt local industries. Cartagena, a major tourist and shipping hub, could see parts of its city centre underwater. The Mar Menor, already struggling with pollution, faces faster deterio-

The most abundant species found in the area was the yellow-legged gull (Larus michaellis), with 1,981 individuals, followed by the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) at 1,576. Though neither species is protected, their presence is significant for the local ecosystem.

These bird counts are conducted twice a year, once in winter (November to February) and again in summer, when nesting species are also recorded.

The winter count is done through direct observation at various wetlands, helping ensure the safety of both the wildlife and the base’s flight operations.

ration due to extreme weather and warming waters.

Agriculture, one of Murcia’s biggest economic drivers, is also in danger. Saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies could devastate crops, leading to major financial losses.

Billions invested in protecting beaches may soon be swept away if sea levels continue to rise.

Experts recommend solutions like restoring wetlands and building sustainable flood barriers to reduce damage. However, real progress depends on larger national and international efforts to fight climate change and protect vulnerable regions. Without action, much of Murcia’s beautiful coast could be lost.

Healing nature after fire.

Image: carm.es

Protecting birds, securing skies.

Rising seas threaten Murcia’s coast.

Image: carm.es

Tourism growth

THE Region of Murcia is seeing steady growth in its tourism sector, with 285 new businesses joining the industry by the end of 2024. This marks an increase from last year, with 38 more registrations than in 2023.

The new entries cover a wide range of tourism services, including 32 hotel accommodations, seven tourist hostels, 69 rural lodgings, 137 tourist apartments, nine campsites, eight motorhome areas, and 23 active tourism companies. These additions reflect the region’s growing attractiveness as a tourist destination, both for traditional holidays and adventure tourism.

This year, the Institute of Tourism (Itrem) conducted 512 inspections to make sure businesses are complying with regional tourism regulations. The rise of online listings has also been a focus for Itrem. A total of 638 unregistered accommodations were found advertising on digital platforms, operating without the necessary legal documentation. Itrem has worked to have these listings removed and is taking action against those who do not comply. With these efforts, Murcia continues to build a varied and well-regulated tourism industry, supporting its reputation as an appealing destination for visitors.

RENTAL costs in San Pedro del Pinatar have risen, making it the town with the highest rental price increases in the Mar Menor region, according to the latest report from real estate portal Idealista. December saw a staggering 26.9 per cent year-over-year increase, bringing the price to €8.8 per square metre, the highest on record.

The broader Mar Menor area is also experiencing rising costs. La Manga remains the most expensive location, with prices reaching €10 per square metre, though its increase was a modest 1 per cent compared to December 2023.

Los Alcazares recorded a sharp 15 per cent rise, hitting €7.8 per square metre, another record. San Javier and Torre Pacheco saw smaller hikes, with prices at €7.1 and just over €8 per square metre, respectively.

The growing demand and limited supply of rental properties continue

THE Region of Murcia wrapped up 2024 with its lowest unemployment rate in 17 years, showing a notable decline of 1,087 jobseekers in December. The total number of unemployed now stands at 78,956, marking a 5.87 per cent drop compared to the previous year.

December saw a 1.36 per

Record rents

to squeeze the market. Francisco Iñareta, spokesperson for Idealista, warns that policies in recent years have worsened the housing crisis. The shrinking supply is driving up prices, making rental options accessible only to those with higher incomes and greater financial security,

vulnerable families are increasingly excluded from the market.

As rental prices soar, the need for long-term solutions, including increased housing development, becomes ever more urgent.

Unemployment drops

cent decrease in unemployment from November, with services and agriculture seeing the biggest reductions. However, the construction and industrial sectors experienced slight increases in jobless figures. This marks the fourth consecutive year of decli-

ning unemployment in the region, and it’s the lowest number since 2007.

The region’s employment market shows strong, consistent growth, outpacing the national average. Despite a slight increase in temporary contracts, the overall job market in Murcia has

been described as dynamic and resilient.

The regional government’s efforts in promoting job creation are seen as key to this improvement, particularly benefiting women, young people, and those with no prior work experience. The outlook for 2025 is optimistic, with continued job growth expected.

New businesses fuel tourism.

Mar Menor rental rates.

Home for the holidays

CARLOS ALCARAZ is putting the finishing touches on his preparations for the 2025 tennis season, training hard at El Palmar in Murcia with his full team be fore flying out to Aus tralia. The 21-year-old Murcia native is focused on securing victory at the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open.

Alcaraz spent most of his Christmas break at home, using the time to train at the Real So ciedad Club de Campo, where he first picked up a racket. His father, Car los Alcaraz González, has run the MET Carlos Alcaraz Tennis Academy by Reina there for more than 30 years.

During his trai ning sessions, Alcaraz worked with his coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel López, physical trainer Alberto Lle -

dó, and physiotherapist Juanjo Moreno. They were joined by local professionals Fran Rubio

ches against local players before his Australian Open debut. He faces Po

Noise-free zones

THE regional government of Murcia is extending its action plan to combat noise pollution to 13 new road segments. This plan aims to reduce the negative effects of traffic noise on nearby residents, particularly in areas with high vehicle traffic.

Over the next four years, the Ministry of Development and Infrastructure plans to invest €1.25 million to improve conditions. The intervention follows a noise impact assessment and will include measures such as installing acoustic barriers, implementing traffic calming solutions, reducing speed limits, and using sound-absorbing road surfaces.

Key locations in the region, such as the RM-F36 between Cartagena and Torre Pacheco, and the RM-332 near Mazarron, will see traffic speed reductions and enhanced signage. Other areas, like the RM-A4 in Murcia and

RM-F40 in La Unión, will benefit from noise barriers and speed controls to protect residential areas. These measures are part of a broader €30 million investment in improving the regional road network, which also includes funding for infrastructure upgrades in several municipalities. The project highlights the commitment to reducing noise pollution and improving the quality of life for local communities.

Home advantage for Alcaraz. Image: Facebook/ ATP Tour

Anonymous witnesses Trillions up for grabs

EUROPE could soon be plunging into the North Sea’s vast reserves, but not for oil or fish - this time, it’s all about ‘mining’ trillions of litres of water to create renewable hydrogen! Sounds bonkers? Maybe - but experts say it could spark a clean energy revolution that cements the continent’s status as a global powerhouse of green power. Here at Euro Weekly News, we love a big splash, and this one’s shaping up to be colossal.

With some of the strictest environmental policies on the planet, mostly driven by the European Union, Europe is under massive pressure to ditch dirty fuels and

switch to something cleaner, smarter, and cheaper - all without relying on imports. That’s why hydrogen’s getting star billing. As long as it’s produced with genuinely green methods, it can be one of our mightiest weapons in the war against climate change.

Hydrogen doesn’t puff out any carbon dioxide when used, so it’s perfect for slashing emissionsprovided it’s sourced from renewables rather than fossil fuels. And if you want truly clean hydrogen, you need electricity from eco-friendly sources like solar and wind. Cue the North Sea, which is positively howling with potential.

ALTHOUGH Europeans often think of Sweden as being a very safe and laid back country, there is an undercurrent of professional criminal biker gangs as well as some violence from the extreme right.

Many countries allow for witnesses in serious court cases to appear anonymously but this was never the case in Sweden and has been the cause of much disagreement and debate.

In fact there have been two government

vernment has decided that with effect from January 1, 2025 they should be allowed.

The reasoning behind this decision is that there is a hope that anonymous ‘whistle blowers’ will be persuaded to give details of activities by various dangerous gangs if they believe that their identity will be protected and thus they should be safe from repercussions.

Regardless of negative comments, the proposal

concept, suggesting there would be little positive results from such legislation. A prosecutor, a suspect, or a defendant may now apply to the district court for a witness to be heard anonymously during an investigation or trial and this may be approved if the court decides that there is a ‘significant risk’ that the witness or their relatives would otherwise be exposed to serious crime. If this is implemented in any particular case then the identity of the witness is withheld from the court and a third party lawyer will be appointed to monitor the security in that particular case.

Anonymous witnesses now allowed in Swedish courts.

Credit: James H flickr

Europe’s radical blueprint for green hydrogen glory.

Credit: Shutterstock, David Nixon

Punk Rock

GET ready for a night of pure energy and unforgettable tunes! On Friday, January 24, the punk-rocking trio

Dead Francos is set to electrify Amigos Sports Bar in San Pedro del Pinatar. Known for their high-energy performances, the band will be serving up classics from legends like The Clash, Sex Pistols, Motörhead, The

night

Jam, Green Day, Oasis, and Ramones, to name a few.

Located at Avenida de las Salinas 121, Amigos Sports Bar is the perfect spot for a night of live music and good vibes. Whether you’re a die-hard punk fan or just love great music, this is your chance to enjoy some of the most iconic rock anthems performed by a band that

knows how to keep a crowd moving.

Tables are expected to fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance. Contact Amigos Sports Bar directly to secure your table and get ready for a night to remember. Don’t miss this chance to kick off your weekend with a dose of raw, unapologetic punk rock!

COSTA CALIDA

La Marquesita Restaurant

Catherine McGeer

LOCATED in Plaza Alcolea, 6, in Cartagena, La Marquesita is a family-run restaurant managed by a mother and daughter. The welcoming terrace, surrounded by plants, creates a peaceful and cosy spot to enjoy a meal in central Cartagena.

The menu focuses on Mediterranean, European, and Spanish dishes, with options for vegetarians and vegans. Starters like tender octopus, crispy chanquetes (tiny fried fish), and the flavourful vegetable tartar are favourites. For mains, the steak tartar, cod with Idiazábal cheese, and monkfish are prepared with care and taste incredible.

Save room for dessert, standouts include the white chocolate heart and a rich turrón (nougat) treat. Each dish reflects the team’s dedication to quality and flavour.

Service is top-notch. The staff are attentive, ensuring drinks are refilled, bread is replenished, and guests feel looked after. The charming decor adds to the relaxed atmosphere, ma -

king it a popular spot for celebrations and casual dining.

To reserve a table, call 968 507 747 or email info@lamarquesita.net. Whether for a special occasion or a quiet meal, La Marquesita offers a delightful dining experience in the heart of Cartagena.

Live Music

ON January 14, Casa Club Camposol will host a live music event featuring Benito Gonzalez on the saxophone. The event will run from 8.00 to 11.00pm, offering a relaxing evening with great tunes.

Guests can choose to book a table for dinner or simply drop in for drinks. The venue is located in Sector C, 30875 Mazarron, and reservations are recommended to secure a spot. Those who prefer a more casual visit can enjoy drinks while taking in the live performance.

This event presents a perfect opportunity to enjoy food, drinks, and live entertainment all in one place. It’s a great way to spend an evening with friends or family. For reservations, guests are encouraged to contact Casa Club Camposol directly.

Images: Facebook/ La Marquesita

Image: Shutterstock/ Nach-Noth

Belgian ‘Wonder Woman’

HILDE DOSOGNE has smashed records and proven that anything’s possible - even running a marathon every single day for a whole year!

The Belgian ultra-runner crossed the nish line in Ghent on New Year’s Eve 2024, her 366th consecutive marathon, to a chorus of cheers. But don’t be fooled - despite completing the 15,444-kilometre challenge, Hilde was not completely exhausted. She said she was “glad it’s over,” but there was one nal hiccup on her last run: a collision with a spectator.

RECORD BROKEN: Belgian Wonder Woman runs a marathon every day for a year!

Spain new European star

WITH Germany seemingly coming under more scrutiny financially and finding it a tough task to cope with the economic hit of their main asset, the automation industry, a diamond in the rough has been unearthed - and it comes as a surprise to many.

After 366 days of pounding the pavement, this 55-year-old bio-engineer has not only proved her resilience, but also raised a whopping €60,000 for breast cancer research. Now that’s a victory with some substance.

As she passed the nish line, her mind was already ticking over the next steps: submitting GPS data, photos, videos, and witness reports to the Guin-

ness World Records. If all checks out, she’ll o cially hold the female record for running a marathon every day for a full year - a feat that would dethrone the previous record of 150 days held by Erchana Murray-Bartlett. She’ll also join Hugo Farias, who holds the male equivalent, with 366 consecutive marathons.

Running 42.5 kilometres a day isn’t for the faint of heart - especially when you’ve battled the u, Covid-19, multiple crashes, blisters, and even bursitis. But for Hilde, the toughest part wasn’t the physical toll - it was the mental grind.

Deputy director of the Polish Economic Institute Andrzej Kubisiak has pointed out that as Germany struggles to maintain their past sparkling performances, Spain has now emerged as the star European nation.

“Spain has done a great job in spending money effecting and coping with the energy crisis,” says Kubisiak, with current Spanish president Pedro Sanchez reiterating frugality and equal income dispersion across the community and important sectors.

“Spain coped quite well with the way out of the pandemic crisis, whe-

re there was an influx of migrants, jobs appeared and funds from KPOs (knowledge process outsourcing) appeared quickly, where new investments appeared,” he stated.

Placing an utmost importance in driving down and keeping down energy costs for Spanish citizens and companies alike, the main challenge for Poland is exactly that - how

to enact this process to begin to move things in an upward trajectory in a world bound by crises. Kubisiak insists that the Green Deal should be atop of the Polish agenda, looking for solutions here that would see national regulations reducing energy costs, spiking a deep level of competitiveness on not only a European scale, but a global one.

Credit: Facebook, Hilde Dosogne.

Spain the new inspiration?

NEWS Travel

La Rioja - A great destination for wine lovers

with Hispavan Campers

LA RIOJA, famous for its vineyards and picturesque countryside, is a province located in north-central Spain. Renowned for its wine production, the region offers a multitude of things to do. Visitors can enjoy exploring the rolling vineyards and historic wineries, wandering through medieval towns, and even going for a hike and enjoying the stunning landscapes.

Exploring La Rioja with one of Hispavan’s campervans allows you to enjoy everything the region has to offer at your own pace. With the freedom to stop wherever you like, you can fully immerse yourself in the local culture, and experience the beauty and charm of La Rioja without missing a thing.

Visit vineyards and wineries

La Rioja is truly a great destination for wine lovers, as it is most famous for its wine production. You can tour various wineries, or ‘bodegas,’ and sample exquisite wines. Some renowned wineries include Bodegas Ysios, Bodegas Muga, and Bodegas Marques de Riscal. You can take a guided tour to learn about the wine-making process, or visit the Wine Museum (Museo del Vino) in Briones and learn about the region’s history.

Explore the historic city of Logroño Take a stroll through Logroño’s charming old town and visit beautiful historical landmarks like the Co-Cathedral of Logroño. Another important attraction is Calle del Laurel, which is famous for its

tapas bars and lively atmosphere - It’s the perfect place to sample local dishes like patatas a la riojana and chorizo riojano.

Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park

Nature lovers can enjoy hiking trails with diverse landscapes - forests, rivers and waterfalls. The Sierra de Cebollera is the perfect place for those who like to stay active and walk through nature. If you’re lucky, you might also spot some local wildlife including red deer, wild boar, and various bird species.

Hispavan

A campervan from Hispavan is the perfect way to travel because it combines comfort, flexibility and adventure in one, offering a home-away-from-home experience. Whether you’re exploring scenic mountain routes or hidden countryside gems, a Hispavan campervan gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace, stopping wherever you please.

SUMMARY

Whether you prefer savouring local wines, discovering charming towns, or hiking scenic trails, La Rioja has something for every traveller. With the comfort and freedom of a Hispavan, you can explore the region at your own pace, ensuring a truly unforgettable experience.

Are you affected by the noise pollution in Spain? Your

VOICE

NOISE pollution, an often-underestimated problem, can profoundly affect human health and well-being. We all experience it, whether it’s the roaring sound of traffic, music blasting through the walls from a neighbour’s party, or the constant drilling sounds of construction nearby. It can affect our sleep, make us feel stressed, and even impact our health in the long run, leading to problems like hearing loss and heart issues. But most of all, it makes us feel annoyed and exhausted.

This was the experience of residents in the Arroyo de la Miel district in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol, as reported by Euro Weekly News last month. The neighbours complained about sleepless nights caused by unmuffled exhaust pipes, roaring engines, and music blasting from nearby festivals and fairgrounds - and they are not alone in this situation. While this, unfortunately, is a common experience for anyone living in an urban area, some people believe that noise is simply a part of Spanish culture. So, we asked our readers: are you affected by the noise pollution in Spain? One of the primary complaints from the residents in Benalmadena revolves around traffic noise, particularly “older men driving around in open-top convertible sports cars roaring up and down.” Brian Rae hi-

ghlighted this issue in response to our poll, describing the noise as “ridiculous” and calling for stricter enforcement against illegal exhaust systems. He noted that the persistent noise from the road outside his home prevents him from opening his windows, explaining that “it is a built-up area with no speed bumps or max speed limit signs, now due to the solid white lines being worn away they are overtaking.”

Peter Mack echoes these concerns, emphasising the need for stricter traffic noise control. He suggests that “unmuffled motos should be heavily fined.”

Not all noise complaints stem from traffic, however. Paul Slater raised a different issue - barking dogs in his neighbourhood. “It’s nonstop barking, 24/7,” he said, describing the frustration caused by his neighbours’ pets.

While specific issues, such as the barking dogs, can be challenging to address due to their nature, traffic noise emerges as a more widespread concern that many believe could be resolved. Readers suggest practical measures such as repainting road markings, introducing deterrents like speed bumps and posted speed limits, and enforcing stricter regulations on vehicle exhaust noise.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Take it easy

COUNCIL staff are working from abroad in locations ranging from Barbados to South Africa, with local authorities approving 731 requests in 2023 compared with 708 in 2022. Meanwhile, Office for National Statistics data revealed that public service productivity is now 8.5 per cent below prepandemic levels.

Best-sellers

ACCORDING to the latest figures from Tesla, the company headed by Elon Musk sold 2,231 models up to December 26 in Spain last year. This was not far short of Toyota’s 2,586 C-HRs in a month when both overtook the Dacia Sandero although, as in 2023, this remains Spain’s best-selling car for the whole year.

Starling winged

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined digital bank Starling £29 million (€35 million)) for its ‘shockingly lax’ financial crime controls. These had left the online-only bank, founded in 2014, in a position “wide open to criminals and those subject to sanctions,” the City regulator said.

Big Four

MULTINATIONAL auditors

KPMG and EY each had 11 clients listed on Spain’s Ibex 35 index of leading companies, 63 per cent of the total, in 2024. Deloitte had four, while PwC with nine clients is almost certain to overtake them all in earnings, as it has a contract worth €130m with Banco Santander.

Wrong track

THE HS2 rail project was in a “very serious situation” Mark Wild, HS2 Limited’s chief executive said in late December. Constructing the railway would cost between £67 and £83 billion (€81 and €100 billion) at current prices, although the Transport Department argued these figures were “unreliable.”

STAT OF WEEK

will be paid in dividends based on 2024’s earnings by Spain’s principal banks, Santander, CaixaBank, BBVA and Sabadell in 2025.

Big money in takeovers

FOREIGN takeovers of UK-listed companies brought a 2024 fees bonanza for the City.

Investment advisers AJ Bell revealed that takeovers of British companies amounted to £49 billion (€59 billion) in 2024 compared with £17.2 billion (€20.7 billion) in 2023.

A spate of deals involving large companies inevitably drove up fees charged by banks and law firms involved.

A Telegraph analysis of filings for the 15 completed takeovers of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies revealed that banks and law firms’ fees had amounted to £1.6 billion (€1.9 billion).

Most profitable from the

ACE footballer Lionel Messi has floated his property investment trust on the Bolsa Portfolio, an alternative Spanish stock exchange supervised by the Bank of Spain.

Messi, the former FC Barcelona idol who left in 2021, now plays for Inter Miami which is owned by David Beckham.

He was named chairman of Edificio Rostower Socimi, while his wife Antonela Roccuzzo is vice-president.

Top choice

THE Amsterdam-based European stock exchange, Euronext, was chosen by 53 debuting companies in 2024.

This represented onethird of last year’s European flotations and, as in 2023, technology was the most active sector, accounting for 40 per cent of the new listings.

Another 11 companies chose to list on Euronext in 2024, including CVC Capital Partners (Jersey), together with Louis Hachette Group (France), Paratus Energy services (Norway) and Theon International (Cyprus).

City’s point of view was the £1 billion (€1.2 billion) acquisition of TI Fluid Systems by Canadian ABC Technology Holdings.

Company records showed that the banks which had advised ABC on the British brake fluid

company’s takeover received £234 million (€282.2 million).

That amounted to almost a quarter of TI’s purchase price instead of the normal 5 per cent rate, although in this case approximately £160 mi-

llion (€193 million) was commission on refinancing TI’s debt pile. TI Fluid had paid its own bankers £37 million (€44.6 million).

The Telegraph analysis also pointed out that banks and advisers would have earned even more, as the £1.6 billion did not include takeovers where no documents were published, together with those which were not completed or were rejected.

Rejected deals include

Australian mining giant BHP’s £34 billion (€41 bn) offer for its rival Anglo American, while Rightmove staved off a £6.2 billion (€7.5 bn) approach from Australian counterpart, Rupert Murdoch’s REA.

Messi turns businessman

The company’s only shareholder is Limecu Es paña 2010, the Messi fa mily’s investment vehicle, although Reuters revealed that the trust has informed Bolsa Portfolio that it will open up to admit new investors.

Founded in 2013, the company posted a €1.7 million loss in 2023 ac-

Steelworks saved

NETWORK STEEL has bought the Thyssenkrupp’s Galmed plant in Sagunto (Valencia), which produces 350,000 tons of galvanised coils each year.

The deal, which brought to an end months of negotiations, also put an end to uncertainty after Thyssenkrupp announced more than a year ago that it intended to sell the Sagunto steelworks.

The decision was prompted by plummeting steel production in Europe owing to its uncompetitively high overheads, as well as the German company’s own losses, sources said.

Neither Thyssenkrupp nor Network Steel have revealed further details although the Spanish government and unions confirmed the deal, which will maintain the current employment and working conditions of the plant’s 120 workers.

cording to Bolsa Portfolio

Edificio Rostower owns seven hotels in Spain and Andorra, three office spaces and five apartments in Spain, plus others in London and Paris.

It has now debuted at €57.4 per share, giving the company a market capitalisation of €223 million.

Be prepared

UBER EATS, which classes delivery riders as self-employed, not employees, has set aside €136.3 million for potential tax and legal contingencies.

Portier Eats Spain’s 2021 accounts submitted in July 2024 to the Registro Mercantil, equivalent to the UK’s Companies House, showed losses of €47.3 million for that year.

This was mainly the result of assigning €57.1 million to cover eventualities arising from Work Inspections in addition to 2020’s €79.2 million allocation.

The company announced in 2021 that inspectors had begun scrutinising its activities throughout Spain, adding that it was making provisions to reflect the ‘most probable’ outcome of the appraisals.

NATWEST had its best stock market year since 1993, heading the FTSE 100 index with Rolls-Royce and British Airways in 2024. Shares in NatWest which, as Royal Bank of Scotland required a €20 billion (€24 billion) bailout in 2008, climbed 83 per cent, with total returns including dividends reaching 95 per cent. British Airways owner IAG had 99 per cent returns, while shares in Rolls-Royce, with 90 per cent returns, soared by more than 500 per cent under Tufan Erginbilgic, its chief executive since 2023.

New

BILLIONAIRE brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa are considering a £13 billion (€15.7 billion) listing in the US for their EG Group.

According to the Sunday Telegraph and Mergermarket, the brothers have already engaged banks for the float whose £13 billion value would multiply by almost 13 the company’s 2023 profits of £1.1 billion (€1.3 billion).

While viewed as another snub for London’s stock market, New York is preferred as the US is the company’s most important market for its filling stations and forecourt convenience stores.

Still waiting

THE Post Office spent £136 million (€164.3 million) on paying lawyers involved in compensating sub-postmasters affected by the faulty Horizon computer programme. MPs on the Business and Trade Committee pointed out that this was more than 25 per cent of the £499 million (€602.8 million) paid so far from the £1.8 billion (€2.2 billion) fund for wrongly-accused victims.

Thousands have yet to receive compensation but one law firm alone, Herbert Smith Freehills, was paid £82 million (€99 million), MPs said

Photo credit: goodfon.com

LIONEL MESSI: Has floated Edificion Rostower on Spanish stock exchange.

TAKEOVERS: High fees for City bankers and lawyers.

10.712,0 10.730,0 10.552,0 2,45M

Beazley 813,00 819,00 809,00 738,01K Berkeley 3.838,0 3.878,0 3.808,0 476,46K BP 414,05 415,70 406,80 30,14M British American Tobacco 2.968,0 2.968,0 2.928,0 3,38M BT Group 147,85 148,10 145,00 16,26M

3.252,0 3.274,0 3.236,0 614,31K

136,80 138,25 136,15 42,56M

2.643,00 2.669,00 2.628,00 3,43M

5.235,0 5.305,0 5.160,0 839,55K

2.503,5 2.521,0 2.421,0 4,89M

544,00 545,50 538,00 1,88M

535,20

603,50 613,00 595,00 214,02K

BUSINESS

EXTRA

Talking Turkey

GARANTI, BBVA’s Turkish subsidiary, has signed an agreement with the Bit2Me platform to use its services for buying and selling clients’ cryptocurrency. This arrangement enables the Spanish bank to enter the crypto market in Turkey, a country where using digital currency is widespread.

Choc shock

WITH cocoa beans costing $11,425 (€11,035) by late December, their price soared by 167 per cent in 2024, overtaking Bitcoin’s rise of 117 per cent. Smuggling and dry weather in West Africa had combined to affect harvests, growers explained.

Non-doms choose Milan

NON-DOMS are leaving London as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to end the regime that allowed them to live comfortably in the capital.

Those staying in the UK without being domiciled paid tax on overseas earnings only if they brought their funds into the country, a practice that former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt wanted to change.

Now Reeves will go further still by scrapping the system entirely in 2025. This is producing an

Nice little earner

CRITERIACAIXA spent €983 million on acquiring a 9.36 per cent holding in global infrastructure and services company ACS in May 2024.

The La Caixa Group’s holding company, which manages its investments in non-financial sectors in addition to its CaixaBank stake, made a 24 per cent profit on the 25,431.299 shares which are now worth €1.2 billion.

Shares in ACS, headed by Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, were fetching €47.92 on December 30, not far short of the record €48.6 that they reached in 2007 before the property boom bubble burst the following year.

CriteriaCaixa’s holding, making it ACS’s principal shareholder after Florentino Perez, has also brought in €39.5 million in dividends since the purchase.

exodus of non-doms to Italy, whose tax system charges them €200,000 a year regardless of the size of their fortune, up from the €100,000 they paid until earlier last year.

For the ultra-rich, this is still a bargain and Diletta Giorgolo Spinola from Sotheby’s International Realty Italy told the UK media that the specialist company had seen ‘an explosion’ of enquiries following the non-dom tax changes.

Milan, Italy’s business capital, is particularly sought-after, Giorgola Spinola said, and rental deals in 2024 had soared 30 per cent compared with 2023, above all for properties costing between €15,000 and €30,000 a month.

Rome is also popular although Milan was where most of London’s non-doms were heading.

“Deals are concluded rapidly, as supply fails to keep up with demand,” she added.

Able to save

SPAIN’S households spent less than they earned during the third quarter of 2024, National Statistics Institute figures showed, with a saving rate of 7.1 per cent of their gross disposable income, compared with 5.5 per cent during the same period in 2023. After seasonal adjustments, the rate rose 14.2 per cent, reaching its highest level in three years.

Shutters down

APPROXIMATELY 13,500 shops closed in 2024, a 28 per cent increase on the previous year, although fewer than in 2020 and 2022, the Centre for Retail Research announced. Although figures were better than during the pandemic, the group’s Research director Professor Joshua Bamfied described them as ‘disconcerting’ while predicting that 2025 would be worse.

MILAN: Italy’s business capital attracts non-doms.

What a difference

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS

THINK IT

WELL, here we are in the year of our Lord 2025. Delighted to report the weather here on Mallorca has been absolutely great. Can’t of course say that about the UK.

Yesterday parts of it were reported to be just about snowed under. Why don’t all you lovely UK online readers just pop over? You know it makes sense! Actually, (as per usual) this Yuletide, once again took up quite a bit of my time trying to find something decent on British TV. Yet again what a load of cheap bunkham they managed to churn out.

Terrible third rate ‘celebrity’ game shows and the usual wheeling out of a series of ancient movies, all of which should have been entitled ‘Carry on up the Khyber’ which is where most of them actually belonged. Nice to see Hattie Jacques again. This highly talented and sadly missed Lady of the theatre once told me that all the starring Carry On roles were paid the miserable sum of five grand for every

picture, most of them were certainly worth as great deal more than that!

The only truly lovable entertainer featured over the whole three-day period was to me the late and certainly great Tommy Cooper. It really doesn’t ever seem to matter how many times you enjoy the Tommy experience he always manages to double you over with humour and perfectly clean comedy. What a difference from the trash and obscenities most so-called comedians churn out today.

I actually met Tommy on a number of occasions at various TV and charity events (mainly in bars!) but was truly surprised after my then wife and I, who had been on a visit to my dear old Mum in her Eastbourne nursing home, decided to have dinner in a local restaurant. We had just taken our seats when in walked Tommy and his wife Gwen, who actually lived locally.

They were happy to join us and we were soon enjoying their unexpected company until the meal was subsequently served. Tommy had ordered a steak with chips, carrots and peas. We were about to tuck in when he

beckoned over the waiter. With an utterly straight face he then told the somewhat confused young man that he wanted the steak and all accompanying vegetables served up on separate plates. This was subsequently re-served as he had requested. We then proceeded to tuck in on our now somewhat crowded table, and oddly he never submitted one word of explanation for his actions.

We of course were far too polite to ask. When we were leaving, he asked if we could give them a lift home. Tommy was extremely frugal, so with his knees bent up to his chin was quite happy to squeeze all six feet four inches of himself in our mini minor.

When we finally arrived at his Eastbourne abode, he then kindly asked us to hold on he had something for us. His wife soon re-emerged and presented us with a shiny biscuit tin, a gift which later actually turned out to be full of broken biscuits! RIP Tommy. Gone aged 63. Just like that!

Keep the faith Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com

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

Great fish heist

INTERVIEW

LIKE something from an episode of the popular old cartoon series Top Cat with a bit of a festive twist, Madrid Local Police have released a video showing two cats pulling off an unexpected heist on a street fish vendor.

While the unlicensed fishmonger was looking the other way, the crafty cats, who seemed to be working in cahoots, snuck up on the back of the man’s lorry to grab one of the tasty fresh fish.

One cat climbed onto the back of the lorry where fish were openly on display, paused for a moment as the fish seller looked on oblivious to what was about to happen, dropped the catch briefly before recovering it, and then they both scampered off to enjoy their sushi feast like the proud victors they were. Meanwhile, the ad-hoc street vendor remained blissfully unaware of the daylight robbery occurring around his feet, even though he nearly stepped on the cats.

Madrid police used the footage as a light-hearted reminder to people to avoid distractions while driving and enjoy the holiday season with loved ones. ‘Feliz Navidad,’ they posted, urging people to stay focused behind the wheel.

Speaking EuropeanMarsy Popa

From graduating in law to singing full time, Marsy Popa has had an incredible journey from Romania to Spain.

MUSIC has been part of Marsy’s identity since she was 11 years old, but she also studied law and when she completed her degree, a friend asked her to visit Spain.

“I never thought I’d come to Spain full time. I studied law and was a singer at the same time. I was very determined to build a legal career in Romania, then this invitation came to me.

she “met a musician, who put me in touch with the right people. One month later and I’m in the Canary Islands singing for all the hotels. I haven’t stopped since.

“When I got my first contract as an artist, it meant the world to me.”

big plans.

“My life changed in my first two weeks in Spain, and I never went back.”

Marsy has fulfilled a lifelong dream of having a singing career here in Spain.

In Torrevieja, by happenchance

She is now one of the best-known performers in the Costa Blanca and has big plans for the year ahead with a Gladys Knight tribute and a separate tour in Spanish theatres.

As well as singing in the Dreamgirls trio, “I’ve worked with them since 2021, we all started together and built it together. I consider them family we are very close.”

Fishy thieves.

Credit: Policia Local de Madrid.

Marsy has

Marsy Popa.

Most influential

GISÈLE PELICOT, a woman who bravely faced her rapists in court after being repeatedly raped by them, has been honoured as the most noteworthy person of 2024 in an opinion poll in France.

Pelicot overtook world leaders as the most highly esteemed figure in the French public’s eye for the way she faced her aggressors across a courtroom and saw all 51 of them, including her husband, convicted of systematically gang raping her. In demonstrating such bravery, she ins pired women across France to bring the topic of rape out of the shadows of social taboo and into the forefront of public discussion.

Thirty-eight per cent of respon dents to the poll, carried out by the Odoxa Institute, who were asked who had influenced them the most in 2024, responded, ‘Gisèle’. Donald Trump came in second place, followed by Zelensky, Putin, Macron, and Elon Musk.

The Odoxa insti tute said that Peli cot’s ‘dignity but also the horror to which she was subjected

have made a massive impact upon French people’.

Gisèle Pelicot’s now-former husband, Dominique Pelicot, has been sent to prison for 20 years for drugging his wife and offering her unconscious body to dozens of rapists in their home near Avignon in southern France. He has said he will not appeal the sentence.

She is now at the centre of a heated national debate over what she denounced as the rape culture of a pa-

Push for ban on fireworks

AFTER reported injuries from fireworks on New Year’s Eve, Belgium is at the centre of a heated debate, with Flemish mayors and animal rights groups calling for a Europe-wide ban on the sale of fireworks to individuals, citing public safety and animal welfare concerns.

Several Belgian municipalities, including Brussels, have already enforced local bans on

fireworks sales and use. Despite these measures, a report by Politico said on New Year’s Eve celebrations in the capital saw 159 arrests, with police handling over 1,700 incidents. Reports of injuries to limbs and attacks on emergency workers further highlighted the dangers.

VVSG argues that a nationwide ban would be insufficient without broader European co -

Avalanche escape

A MAN was able to free himself from an avalanche on Christmas Day with just his left hand.

On entering the ski run, the snow shifted under the skier, and an avalanche ensued. The event occurred on the Madlochjoch mountain at around 2.20pm and swept the skier about 500 metres before burying him completely, leaving only his left hand still sticking out in the air.

While his partner made a call to emergency servi-

ces and began searching for the 40-year-old, the buried man was able to first dig his face free on his own and then free himself completely.

The man was airlifted to the Bludenz Regional Hospital for examination but was later released relatively unscathed. The man, a trained ski guide, was the first to ski down the slope before his partner followed.

After a deep settling noise, the entire area around

the skier began to move. At first he was able to stay upright on his skis, but then slipped and fell and was buried by the masses of shifting snow.

Both skiers were equipped with complete emergency equipment, including an avalanche airbag; in this case, it failed to deploy.

The Lech mountain rescue service scrambled two helicopters and deployed both police and alpine patrols.

llaboration. Animal welfare organisation GAIA has voiced scepticism about the push for an EU-wide ban, urging Belgium to implement its own restrictions immediately. Ann de Greef, GAIA’s director, told Politico, “When we hear that Europe has to deal with something, it is usually an excuse for politicians not to do anything in their own member state.”

Madlochjoch mountain.

Credit: Martin WeinhardtWikipedia CC

Gisèle Pelicot during trial.

Consumer fireworks to potentially be banned across Europe.

Credit: Pexels, Miguel Acosta.

Costa del Sol Lucky Malaga

THE first prize of the ‘El Niño’ lottery did not come to the Costa del Sol this time. The ticket number 78908 was snapped up in León in the north of Spain, according to the prize draw held on Monday, January, 6. However, a good dose of luck did fall on the Malaga Province in the form of second and third prizes.

Ticket number 06,766, the second prize, was sold in the Venta Los Pacos de Marbella and in Malaga City, in the neighbourhood of Cruz de Humilladero. The number carried a very respectable €750,000 per series, or €75,000 each for each of the 10 tickets available that each hold that number. Malaga Province also had luck with the third prize-winning number, 66,777.

It was worth €250,000 per series of 10 tickets, so €25,000 to each of the lucky people who held that numbered ticket, more specifically in Cartama, Torre del Mar, Cala del Moral, and three in Malaga City.

Axarquia

600 toys spread cheer

SIX HUNDRED toys spread Christmas cheer to vulnerable children in Rincon de la Victoria.

The town kicked off the festive season with a heartwarming gesture, delivering 600 brand-new toys to families in need. The Pabellón Cubierto Municipal ‘Rubén Ruzafa’ in Torre de Benagalbon hosted a spectacular event brimming with joy, as 267 children and their families enjoyed an afternoon of fun, food, and festive treats.

The toys were distributed as part of a charitable campaign organised by the local Social Welfare Department in collaboration with the Rincon Contigo association. Among the participants in the event were Mayor Francisco Salado (PP), the town’s Social Welfare councillor Olga Cervantes (PP), and other government officials.

The generosity of everyone has proven that, when a community comes together, the impact can be real. This year’s toy drive, now an annual tradition, is more than just about gifts - it’s about spreading the word; ‘no one is alone’.

Mallorca

New Year’s escape lists

PALMA DE MALLORCA continues to be the top destination for German tourists to see in the New Year, according to data from the flight and hotel search engine Jetcost.es

This year, searches for flights for the year-end period have increased by 16 per cent, while hotel searches have grown by 19 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Between December 26, 2024, and January 6, 2025, key dates for the holiday season, Jetcost reported that Palma de Mallorca remains the top choice for Germans, followed closely by the French, Portuguese, and British.

While Europeans prefer the beaches and charm of the Spanish islands, Spaniards are also drawn to international destinations to celebrate the end of the year. London, Paris, and Rome remain the top choices for domestic tourists, although destinations like Madrid, Tenerife, and Barcelona also appear prominently.

Costa Blanca South New Year’s bundles

THE first birth in the Torrevieja Health Department for the new year occurred late on New Year’s Day at 7.25pm.

The baby, a boy weighing two kilos, was born to parents of foreign origin.

In the Torrevieja Department, over half of the 210,000 residents assisted by public health services are from abroad.

This hospital handles just over 1,000 births annually (1,057), serving mothers from 10 municipalities along the Vega Baja coastline and its nearby areas: Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada, Rojales, Guardamar del Segura, San Fulgencio, San Miguel de Salinas, Los Montesinos, Benijofar, and Formentera del Segura.

In the Valencian Community, the first baby born in the public hospital network in 2025 arrived at Denia Hospital at 12.05am named Adrián. Adrián’s parents, Patricia Gato and Daniel Petac, are residents of Pedreguer.

Almeria

Mojacar’s big splash

MOJACAR’S New Year’s Day Swim, hosted by Mojacar Forum, marked its 10th anniversary this year. What began a decade ago with a simple idea over a drink at the Emerald Isle bar has grown into a much-anticipated annual event. Despite the chilly temperatures, participants braved the cold waters, making it another memorable day on the beach.

This year’s swim not only celebrated the event’s milestone but also served as a charity fundraiser. Funds raised were split between PAWS, the local animal shelter, and shelters in Valencia and Malaga, which were severely impacted by recent floods. In total, the event raised an impressive €5,920, with more expected from sponsorships. The amount includes registration fees, bar sales, raffle tickets, and donations.

Along with the swim, there were fun prizes for participants, including the best fancy dress, the oldest swimmer, the youngest swimmer, and the most swimmers in the water competition.

Costa Blanca North Promising year ahead

ACCORDING to the hotel association HOSBEC, 2025 is once more shaping up to be a promising year for tourism in the Valencian Community. This positive sentiment is supported by a marked increase in early bookings observed in the latter months of 2024, indicating a shift in traveller behaviour. More people are now inclined to plan their trips well in advance.

As 2024 has now drawn to a close, HOSBEC has released their annual report highlighting significant achievements. The Costa Blanca recorded an impressive 77.6 per cent overall occupancy rate, marking an increase of 4.7 percentage points compared to the previous year. From May to October, the peak summer season, occupancy rates surpassed the 80 per cent mark, with a remarkable peak of 90.1 per cent reached in August. Specific destinations demonstrated their unique appeal; for instance, Calpe achieved an impressive annual occupancy rate of 81.2 per cent.

Meet Marbella’s Culinary Superstar: An Exclusive Interview with Jeffrey Merrihue

Marbella is known for its sunshine, stunning landscapes, and vibrant food scene, but it’s also home to a culinary star: Jeffrey Merrihue. A proud Californian, Jeffrey is the founder of XtremeFoodies and the executive chef and owner of Andala Marbella. He is redefining dining with his innovative approach to tapas.

FROM COAST TO COAST

FROM World Traveller to Marbella’s Culinary Scene

Jeffrey’s culinary journey is as diverse as the dishes he creates. Having dined at every restaurant on the prestigious ‘World’s 50 Best’ list, his food knowledge is unparalleled. From Tokyo to Buenos Aires, Jeffrey’s experiences have shaped his unique palate. As the founder of XtremeFoodies, a global network of local food experts, he’s dedicated to uncovering hidden gems in the food world - places where authenticity reigns supreme.

A Judge, Author, and Pizza Lover

Jeffrey is no stranger to the spotlight, having appeared on Iron Chef and written a book on pizza. When asked about his favourite food city, he joked, “It’s like picking a favourite child. But Naples? That’s where pizza perfection exists.” With a resume like that, it’s hard not to love him.

Why Marbella?

Why did Jeffrey choose Marbella to settle? “Marbella has this magicbeautiful landscapes, warm people, and a thriving food scene,” he says. “I knew I had to be part of it.” And we’re certainly glad he did. In addition to his restaurant in Marbella, Jeffrey has a rich history of owning iconic spots in San Francisco and Santa Monica, bringing a slice of California flair to Andalucia.

A Celebration of Tapas and Fresh

Ingredients

Andala Marbella isn’t just about dining; it’s about experience. Jeffrey’s tapas menu celebrates Andalucia’s diverse regions, from Almeria to Sevilla. Each dish showcases his commitment to fresh, local ingredientswhether it’s Iberian ham or seasonal seafood. “Quality is non-negotiable,” he emphasises.

At Andala, Jeffrey is also collaborating with a talented team of renowned local professionals, including Chef Kanuto (Juan José Villalba) and Miguel Monte Mora. Kanuto, with over 15 years of experience at prestigious spots like El Lago, crafts dishes rooted in Andalucian ingredients, while Miguel, a Marbella veteran and hospitality legend, ensures exceptional service.

The restaurant’s ambiance is warm and inviting, just like the food. With this exceptional collaboration, Andala guarantees a memorable dining experience.

Join the Culinary Journey

Next time you’re in town, don’t miss Andala Marbella for gourmet tapas and unforgettable flavoursand maybe a secret or two from Jeffrey himself!

With Jeffrey Merrihue in town, Marbella’s food scene is about to get even more exciting. If you leave Andala without feeling inspired - or slightly jealous of Jeffrey’s culinary genius - well, let’s just say you’ll need more tapas... and a bigger belt!

From one Californian to another, welcome to Marbella, Jeffrey - bringing the best of both coasts!

Spain’s success story

A DOZEN years ago, Spain was the poster child for economic despair. Its government and banks were locked in a vicious downward spiral, kept afloat only by bailouts. Young Spaniards either emigrated or took to the streets in protest over their bleak prospects. Half-built homes and deserted airports stood as grim monuments to a collapsed construction bubble.

But now the country is reportedly on course to be the best-performing, rich-world economy of 2024 on a range of economic fronts - GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, fiscal stability and even stock market performance. Economic growth and job creation are outpacing even the United States, the usual benchmark for success.

Spain’s recovery stems from reforms following the financial crisis. Overhauls in banking and the labour market have strengthened the economy, while policies encouraging renewable energy

(such as scrapping the infamous ‘sun tax’ on solar power) have bolstered the green sector.

Tourism has rebounded spectacularly, while consulting and tech services are climbing the value chain. Services outside tourism now account for 7-8 per cent of GDP, up from 5.5 per cent pre-pandemic. Foreign investment, including Chinese firms like CAT (a battery-maker) and Chery (a carmaker), is another feather in Spain’s cap.

But challenges remain. House prices are soaring, productivity growth lags and a fragile coalition government resists needed reforms. Spain’s success story is truly inspiring - but resting on its laurels could be a costly mistake.

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

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

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

NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS

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

LUCCA MOVALDI PRESIDENT: AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL CLUB MARBELLA

Easing vet fears

A VISIT to the vet can be stressful for both dogs and their owners. Many dogs become anxious or fearful before and during their appointment, but with some preparation, you can help your dog feel more at ease.

First, it’s important to stay calm yourself. Dogs are sensitive to their owner’s emotions, so if you’re stressed, your dog is likely to pick up on that anxiety. Speak in a calm, soothing voice, and

TIP ‘Windows to Wellness’

try to act relaxed.

Before the visit, get your dog used to the idea of the car ride. Take short, nonvet related trips in the car to help your dog associate the car with positive experiences, rather than just trips to the vet. Make sure to keep your dog’s routine as normal as possible before the appointment, including feeding and walking times.

Once at the vet, stay close to your dog, offering gentle reassurance with soft petting and treats. You can also bring along your dog’s favourite blanket or toy to provide comfort in an unfamiliar setting. In some cases, your vet may recommend calming aids like pheromone sprays, anxiety wraps, or even mild sedatives to help ease your dog’s nerves.

Lastly, rewarding your dog with treats and praise after the visit helps them associate the experience with something positive, making future trips less stressful.

ENGAGE pets with interactive toys, puzzle feeders, indoor fetch, tug-of-war, or hide-andseek games. Training sessions and scentbased activities also stimulate their minds and help burn off energy indoors.

Happy

Stay warm!

WINTER in Spain may not bring snow, but the cold, wet weather can still pose risks to your pets. Dogs and cats are vulnerable to chilly temperatures and damp conditions, so it’s important to take extra precautions during these months. Limit time outdoors

While rain may not last all day, it’s essential to avoid long walks during the coldest, wettest hours. Opt for shorter, more frequent outings, and keep them dry by using a waterproof dog coat or rain jacket.

Keep warm indoors

Cats and dogs, especially those with shorter fur, need a warm, dry space to retreat to when indoors. Provide a soft bed

New

Year.

Time to plan petcare for 2025!

LUNA is a friendly dog, and used to having company at home. She often travels with her owners but when they go abroad she is better staying at home. Lucy her owner has been using HouseSitMatch for some years now to find pet-sitters through our network. Luna is more relaxed at home and prefers being cared for in her own space. Plan ahead like Lucy to find pet care for your furry friends.

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

away from drafts, and ensure your pet has a comfortable resting spot.

Dry their coat quickly

If your pet gets wet from the rain, dry them thoroughly with a towel or a pet-friendly hairdryer. Damp fur can cause discomfort and may lead to skin issues.

Protect their paws

Wet streets can be slippery and harsh on your pet’s paws. After walks, wipe their paws clean and check for irritation caused by rain, mud, or street salt. By staying mindful of the weather and taking these simple steps, you can keep your dog or cat safe, healthy, and comfortable throughout Spain’s winter season.

Luna loves her pet-sitter, and prefers staying at home.

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 homeowners 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!

CLASSIFIEDS

BUY & SELL

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CHARITY

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your lifedamaging everything that is important to you.

English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca.org (93323)

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR

MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)

INSURANCE

ABBEYGATE Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www. abbeygateinsure.com (302721)

MASSAGE

ELEGANTE, slim Sophie. Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (303958)

MOTORING

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

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ROAD TEST

By Mark Slack

MANUFACTURERS, especially luxury car makers, are always looking for ways to increase the appeal and sales of their cars. Jaguar did this with the E-Type lightweight, obvious ly, however Bentley have gone fur ther back into their extensive archi ves. The Bentley Speed Six is one of the most well-known and appreciated of the marque amongst motoring aficionados.

Now, the first Speed Six since the original cars back in 1930 is shortly to leave the Bentley Mulliner workshop in Crewe, England bound for a customer in the United States. It is the first of 12 Speed Six Continuation Series cars with each having been handcraf ted over the course of eight months The first completed car is soon to be shipped over to the United States - marking the first delivery of a new Speed Six since 1930. Existing Mulliner customer John Breslow will be the first person to receive his Speed Six.

First New Bentley Speed Six in 95 years

Commissioned just over 12 months ago, the classically curated Speed Six is resplendent in Parsons Napier Green bodywork on top of a

black-painted chassis. The iconic face of the Speed Six is dominated by the large twin round headlamps, finished in Chrome with a protective mesh and separated by a large number ‘4’ on the radiator.

Crafted by hand from scratch, each car takes eight months to complete, with the expert team of Mulliner te-

chnicians working closely with a network of specialist suppliers across the UK to recreate every detail of the original Speed Six.

The cockpit is as authentic as the exterior, with every gauge, switch and control exactly as per the specification of the Speed Sixes that raced at - and won - Le Mans in 1930. Lea-

ther trimmed in a rich deep brown with dominant red tones, the Rust leather and carpet complement the Parsons Napier Green paintwork to the exterior of the Speed Six. At the start of the project, the Mulliner Classic team visited the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, UK to verify the five authentic period Parsons Paints that are available to customers. Over 600 individual new parts, including a new engine block casting, were fabricated for the new 6 1/2 litre race spec engine, which at the time developed 200 bhp. Dyno testing has shown the Continuation Series engines to develop 205 bhp.

The Speed Six is regarded as one of the most important and iconic Bentleys in history, being the most successful Bentley racing car ever produced.

Japan car behemoth

JAPAN’S car makers, Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi are having a go at bringing their operations together under a joint umbrella company, with Honda heading the new management. The merger is expected to go ahead in June.

A merger could result in a behemoth worth more than $50 billion based on the market value of all three automakers. Together, Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi would gain significant enough market share to beat both Toyota and Germany’s troubled Volkswagen.

Honda’s president, said that in order for all parties to be leaders in this transformation, it would be necessary to make bolder changes than just mere collaborations in specific areas. Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi earlier in 2024 agreed to share com-

ponents for electric vehicles such as batteries, and to jointly research technology for self-driving vehicle designs.

Nissan has been struggling since a scandal that began with the arrest of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn in 2018. Nissan has years of experience building batteries and electric vehicles, and gas-electric hybrid engines that could help Honda in developing its own EVs and next generation of hybrids.

The company is not going through its best time and recently reshuffled management as well as taking a 50 per cent pay cut while throwing hands in the air and admitting responsibility for its poor financial performance.

The merger mirrors an industry-wide tendency towards consolidation and mergers, as Japanese companies need to keep up in an increasingly competitive and fast-changing market.

Nissan, Mitsubishi, & Honda emblems.

Challenges for new England Boss

FOR the first time in their history, the English men’s national football team will see a German manager at the helm.

Many feel that Tuchel’s appointment is advantageous to players and fans alike, as the manager has key experience - and success, managing for an English side, Chelsea, as he took them to victory in the Champions League back in 2021.

With his one-year contract allowing him a golden chance to win the FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year, all eyes will be on Tuchel in his run up to a possible final, where he historically has a poor track record - Tuchel has lost seven finals. Another challenge will be how he integrates the wealth of attacking talent into the side.

But with all the challenges he will face as manager of England, he arrives to the side as one

of the most successful managers the country has seen in recent times, bringing a wealth of high-level club experience, combined with a genuine tenacity to win. Tuchel stated: “I have to prove myself and to the people who are maybe a bit con-

cerned, to prove to them how much it means to me and that it is a dream job for me.” And with a strong track record of domination in Germany, France, and England, his official start has already got fans dreaming of a World Cup triumph at last.

Hamilton’s first Ferrari speech

AS Lewis Hamilton commences his position as one of the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers for the upcoming F1 season, joining Charles Leclerc as the leading figures of the Italian team, the British driver insists that the change will prove positive for him and his career.

Many believe Hamilton’s appointment as the new racer for Ferrari for the upcoming season could do well to revitalise his career, with Hamilton ready to ‘embrace the change’.

“Moving to Scuderia Ferrari, there’s a lot to reflect on. Whether you are switching industries, learning a new skill or even just taking on new challenges, remember that reinvention is powerful. Your next opportunity is always within reach,” he said on LinkedIn.

Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal has come out to defend his decision to appoint Hamilton, insisting that his calibre is still very much an appealing factor to the Italian outfit. “Look at the 50 laps he did in Vegas,” the Ferrari chief commented, as his huge second place finish last season here, as well as wins in Silverstone and Belgium justify that he isn’t ‘washed up’ just yet.

As the world’s Formula One fans set their keen eyes

on Hamilton as he prepares for his 19th season at the wheel, Hamilton leaves his supporters with a rallying message: “Here’s to 2025 - a year of embracing new opportunities, staying hungry and driving forward with purpose. Let’s make it one to remem- ber. Andiamo.”

Thomas Tuchel in charge.

Lewis Hamilton, new Ferrari star.

Credit: Notracingpoint, Twitter.

Credit: ClinicalAdam, Twitter.

Warning about joining Real Madrid Luke Littler crowned

WHAT may have seemed like a dream just became a reality for Luke Littler as he becomes the youngest-ever world champion at the tender age of 17.

Darts enthusiasts around the world watched him take on Michael Van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace on January 3. Not even old enough to legally drink a pint, the darts player known as ‘The Nuke’ crushed Van Gerwen’s dreams by beating him 7-3, as he raced to a 4-0 lead.

No stranger to records himself, Van Gerwen was a previous youngest champion, having won the first of his three world titles in 2014 at the age of 24.

However, this was not to be his fourth as Littler, who will be 18 in three weeks claimed £500,000 (€602,200) prize money as an ear -

ly and very well-deserved birthday present to himself.

It has been well documented that Luke Littler is a darts child prodigy in the extreme. He first became interested in darts at the unbelievable age of 18 months. By the age of 10, he was comfortably hitting the elusive 180 and defeating adults in competitive leagues.

His rapid rise to fame culminated in reaching the finals last year, which even though he lost, was an incredible achievement in itself.

Speaking after his victory, Little told BBC Breakfast, “People will say I am the best at the minute but I’ve said I will never admit I am the best, but maybe my performances show I am the best.”

LIVERPOOL star Trent Alexander-Arnold is still yet to agree on a formal contract extension with his boyhood club. Real Madrid have recently come sniffing, but a former Liverpool favourite has since come out and stated that he would be joining an ‘inferior team’.

The Bosman Law states that if a pla-

gic move, stating: “He will be leaving to play alongside less talented players at Real.”

Souness’s assumption may come as a rather bold and outlandish statement to not only Real Madrid fans, but football fans as a whole, as the current Champions League holders boast one of the most attractive ball today. The team possesses an abundance of international

Trent may be available on a mer, but Graeme Souness warns the star about joining

Luke Littler World Darts Champion at 17.

Trent AlexanderArnold.