Costa de Almeria 3 - 9 November 2022 Issue 1948

JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME

Linda Hall

FATHER CHRISTMAS came early this year to the AP SA charity shop in Albox. Founding members of ACT (Almanzora Charita ble Theatre), Lorraine and David Cundy, donated €1,000 to the registered charity whose full name is Animal Protection Society Albox.

Both APSA’s president, Terry Le Gassick, and sec retary, Sally Miller, were active members of ACT and shared the stage in many of their produc tions.

Lorraine also volun teered at the APSA chari ty shop for many years.

“We are deeply thank ful for the generosity and kindness shown by these stalwarts of amateur the atre in the Albox area,” Sally said as she accepted the cheque on behalf of APSA.

With APSA’s kennels full to capacity, the dona tion will go a long way to wards helping their res cue dogs, Terry and Sally explained.

“We recently took in dogs from a failed shel ter,” added APSA treasur er Val Shepherd who was also on hand to accept

the donation.

“They needed special medical care which was very costly, so we are par ticularly grateful to ACT and to everyone who is supporting us at this very busy time.”

APSA is a non‐profit, non‐kill shelter that res cues, rehabilitates and re homes all breeds of dogs and cats.

It was founded in 2004 by a group of local expa triates who were worried about the difficult situa tion and lives of strays

and abandoned animals in the Almanzora Valley area.

As well as rescuing ani mals that would other wise be on the streets, APSA reduces the number of unwanted puppies by neutering all the shelter’s animals as soon as possi ble or keeping males and females in separate quar ters until this can be done. It costs APSA ap proximately €10 a month to feed each rescue dog, plus vets’ bills of at least €250 for vaccinations,

neutering, microchipping and the obligatory pass port. On top of this, the charity must cover the running costs of the shel ter and the Albox charity shop.

Donations of money and items for the shop are always welcome, as is time given by volunteers.

To learn more about APSA, which currently has over 40 rescue dogs look ing for a forever home, visit their http://www.apsa.org.es/ rescues website.

DEEPLY THANKFUL: For the generous donation of €1,000.

Mojacar’s all-rounders

ALL members of Mojacar’s Lo cal Police have received basic training in life support and us ing defibrillators.

They recently used this knowledge to save a life after the 112 Emergency Services received an alert from a fami ly worried about the possible intentions of a male relative.

Officers responded rapidly upon spotting the man’s vehi cle parked near a deserted beach, found him uncon

scious after inhaling carbon monoxide via a tube connect ing the exhaust pipe and the car’s interior.

Thanks to the Mojacar force’s training and the equip ment in their patrol cars, they were able to assist him while waiting for paramedics to ar rive. The 52‐year‐old was hos pitalised and, despite the gravity of his condition, is now in a stable condition.

Along with their routine du ties, Mojacar’s Local Police of

Last post

ficers are qualified to use drones and they also operate a canine unit.

They work continuously with Viogen, the Interior Min istry’s monitoring system, winning a Menina Andalucia award for their pioneering ex perience in protecting victims of domestic abuse and sexist violence since 2013.

They are Andalucia’s only force that takes sole responsi bility for protecting these woman and their children.

ON Friday November 11, at 11.00 there will be a ‘Last Post’ followed by a two‐minute silence at the entrance to the Outdoor Chapel, next to Scottie’s on Mo jacar Playa. The Mojacar Branch of the Royal British Legion will be parading their Standard and conducting this short Re membrance.

On Sunday November 13, at 10.40 there will be a Remembrance Service at the Outdoor Chapel.

Anyone interested in helping the Royal British Legion or volunteering in the next Poppy Appeal should email Nick All beury, mojacar.committee1@rbl.commu nity

Linda Hall

Remembering our fallen heros.

Wonder horse

GANADOR TH II, a Pure Span ish Horse, was recently pro claimed Andalucia champion after coming first in the sev en‐year‐olds’ category. His owner Blas Caparros lives in Cuevas del Almanzora and the young horse, also known as a Pura Raza Española (PRE), is classed amongst the best in the world.

Safer playtime

VERA Town Hall is spending approximately €1 million on renovating all children’s play grounds, making them safer with new equipment and ur ban furniture where neces sary, Infrastructure councillor Alfonso Garcia said. Repairs were necessary, he added, owing to the bad state of paving and some of the slides and other items.

Star-gazing

THE Calar Alto observatory is preparing to install Tarsis, a 3.5‐metre telescope whose unique characteristics enable it to observe very wide fields in the near ultra‐violet re gion. This will make it possi ble to complete Catarsis, a survey of galaxy clusters plac ing Calar Alto at the forefront of astrophysical research.

Cheap veg

AGRICULTURAL union Asaja‐Almeria admitted being “worried” by the evolution of unacceptably low prices paid for courgettes, cucumbers and aubergines in recent weeks. Since the beginning of October, prices had fallen by between 40 and 43 per cent compared with 5 per cent for the same period last year.

Spruced up

SPAIN’S Ministry of Trans port, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) will release €4.6 million of EU funds for the rehabilitation of publicly‐owned buildings in eight Almeria Province municipali ties. These include Edificio Pisos in Macael, as well as municipal buildings in Nijar, Zurgena, Huercal‐Overa, Cuevas del Almanzora, Tijola and Obanes.

Wheely good

IF you are a fan of bicycles, skates, skateboards and other wheely items then good news is coming your way. Almeria has ap proved an inertia track for this kind of activity.

This project, which is now awaiting a tender, has a budget of €47,999 and a time frame of one month for completion.

The councillor responsi ble for Municipal Services and Beaches, Sacramento Sanchez, explained that “the area where the instal

lation is planned to be car ried out is a plot of land in side the Almeria Exhibition Centre which has a total

Over the bridge

THE reform that is being carried out on the San Isidro bridge in Huercal-Overa to cut down on accidents at the crash black spot is progressing at a great pace. The council said the works expected to be completed in February 2023.

The mayor of Huercal-Overa, Domingo Fernandez, con firmed: “This historic work will put an end to the accident rate of a black spot on the roads. The council team began work on the project in 2012, and it is currently at an ad vanced stage.”

The mayor added: “The objectives of this project are the complete renovation of the northwest access to HuercalOvera and will include the elimination of the black spot and decongest traffic in the area with future links that give access to La Inmaculada hospital.

“To achieve this, a new bridge will be built for vehicle traf fic and the old one will be only for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Charitable golf

ALMERIA will be hosting the 18th Golf Tournament in aid of the Proyecto Hombre Association on Sunday, November 6, from 9am until 2pm at the El Toyo golf course.

The Alboran Golf Municipal Course will once again be flooded with the best golfers from the province and beyond.

The manager of Alboran Golf, Patxi Venegas, confirmed “I expect that the tournament will have the participation of more than 100 players from clubs throughout the province.”

Alboran Golf is expected to end 2022 with approximately 50,000 tee times, a figure never achieved before. “This con firms that 2022 has been a year of total recovery after the break in the pandemic. It should be remembered that Spain is the country in Europe where golf is most practised and An dalucia, precisely, is the community that welcomes more athletes per year due to its enviable climate,” acknowledged the manager of Alboran Golf.

Proyecto Hombre is an association with the aim of helping people with addiction problems, as well as their families. in receiving treatment, rehabilitation and social and occupa tional reintegration.

surface area of 1,500 square metres. “This will be the creation of what will be the first track with

these characteristics in the capital.” The councillor ex plained that the new sports facilities project re sponds to a double objec tive. “On one hand the track meets the request of the neighbours to use the land for things other than as an occasional fair ground. On the other hand, it opens up the use to sporting activities that are on the rise and in de mand by young people, such as bikers, riders and skateboarders.”

Halloween fun

Top ten

NIJAR’S San Jose and Tabernas are two of Spain’s most visited towns, according to con ducted tour and excur sions specialists, Civitatis.

The company, which sells more than 74,500 Spanish‐language activi ties in 3,300 destinations in 150 countries, publish es an annual Top 10 list of its most popular Spanish excursions.

This year it ranked San Jose sixth and Tabernas 10th.

Fornells in Menorca took first place, followed by Trigueros del Valle (Valladolid), Peñiscola (Castellon), Trujillo (Cac eres), Albarracin (Teruel), San Jose (Almeria), El Pa so (Canary Islands), Guadalupe (Caceres), Setenil de las Bodegas (Cadiz) and Tabernas (Almeria).

THE children of Mojacar have been able to enjoy their own special Halloween party, one of the most anticipated dates of the school year, which brought together more than 300 people, between parents and little ones.

The Multi‐Uses Centre was turned into a fantastic and ter rifying setting, where the chil dren of Mojacar, transformed into different and chilling char acters, spent an afternoon full of fun.

The Mojacar Bartolomé Flo res Public School ‘El Jalí’ Pupil Parents’ Association, along with the local council, celebrat ed this festival with numerous activities: a fancy dress compe tition and decoration contest, and to continue the tradition of this festival, lots of sweet treats and sweets. There were prizes for the best three cos tumes, and the jury made up of Mojacar mayor, Rosa María Cano, a member of AMPA and a volunteer parent, frankly had a difficult task.

In the end, a charming little three‐year‐old witch won first place. The sizeable British pop ulation, always present in the municipality, could have been the reason for this early inter est, taking into account that some of the first members of AMPA in Mojacar were English and brought along this tradi tion.

Civitatis praised San Jose, which is located in the Cabo de Gata‐Nijar national park, for “houses that were low and white,” commenting on the town’s tranquillity until the summer, when its population “multiplies by four.”

Meanwhile, Civitatis de scribed Tabernas as “ideal for social distancing while enjoying surroundings that are so impressive they captivated cinema audiences for decades.”

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INERTIA TRACK: To be used for various sporting activities.

FANTASTIC SETTING: Fifty fancy dress competitors.

Mojacar tourism office

ASOCIACION ALBA‐PROYEC

TO HOMBRE’S annual report for 2021 revealed that their work is gradually returning to pre‐pandemic levels.

The non‐profitmaking asso ciation, which is non‐denomi national and non‐political, fo cuses on preventing and treating all kinds of addic tions. Last year it assisted 206 people in Almeria Province and 104 of their family mem bers, announced the organi sation’s president Ana Mazon on Thursday October 27.

Speaking at the Museu de

Changing addictions

la Guitarra, Mazon observed that addictions were shifting away from drugs to gambling and new technologies.

In 1994, drug consumption was Spain’s second‐most worrying preoccupation, but 28 years later it was a major concern for only 0.2 per cent of the population.

Nevertheless, the organi sation’s 2021 report also pointed out that requests for help with cannabis ad

diction had risen by 60 per cent with the under‐21s, fol lowed by compulsive gam bling (20 per cent) and co caine (20 per cent).

The new addictions of compulsive internet use, gambling for money and ob sessive videogaming were in creasing, Proyecto Hombre Almeria found, while empha sising that early detection was the best weapon for fighting drug addiction.

Terrifying transformation

THE Castle of San Andrés de Carboneras was transformed into an Enchanted Castle full of terror for Halloween. The castle was filled with fear for all those who dared to cross the gates of the castle.

The town council of Carboneras collabo rated with the Cultural Association Music Studio 9 to put on this spooktacular event which was open from October 29 to 31.

The mayor of Carboneras, José Luis

Amérigo Fernández, and the councillor for Culture, Vanesa Fuentes, presented the ini tiative together with Alejandro López and Susana García, on behalf of the Music Stu dio 9 Cultural Association,

The councilor highlighted “the great work that has been done to make those who en tered the Castle have a terrifyingly good time, which, due to its own characteristics, is the ideal space to be transformed.”

Well done runners

EIGHTEEN Los Bandidos runners participated in the 17th, and final, race in the

Circuito de Carreras Popu lares Diputación de Alme ria 2022 on Saturday Octo ber 29. The 7.1km course went through the town, then up and down the very steep hill to the Castillo, with the race finishing on the Paseo.

Support from Los Bandi dos friends and family was amazing, with lots of cheering, waving and bell ringing, all of which really helped encourage the run ners to the finish line.

The winner finished in an incredible 22:44, with the first lady in 28:46. A to tal of 169 runners crossed the finish line. Trophies were awarded to first, sec ond and third places in each age group as well as to the overall winners.

The Los Bandidos ladies took home seven trophies.

If you would like more information about this group, please contact Kevin on ironmankev08@ gmail.com.

LOS BANDIDOS: The ladies won seven trophies.

Image: Los Bandidos

THE Junta’s 2023 Budget has set aside €386 million for Almeria Province.

This is €144 million more than the 2022 Budget allo cation which was never ap proved owing to opposition from Vox and left‐wing re gional MPs. As a result, the 2021 Budget is still in place.

In contrast, Juanma Moreno will have no prob lems this year, thanks to the PP’s overall majority in the regional parliament follow ing last June’s elections.

Next year’s Budget was presented at the Junta’s last Governing Council meeting

Budget bounty

former mayor of Almeria City who is now Junta spokesman and also heads the region’s Sustainability department. Next year’s spending includes €2 million for new courts in Huercal‐Overa and almost €400,000 for the Puerto‐Ciudad pro ject in Almeria City.

Another €3 million is ear marked for modernising the agricultural sector’s green houses and €64 million as signed to new infrastructure financed by EU funds.

Worth looking after

Linda Hall CUEVAS DEL ALMANZORA mayor Antonio Fernandez Liria took part in Almeria City’s recent Old Quarter Cul tural Week.

Entitled Cascos Historicos, El Corazon de las Ciudades (Old Quarters, the Heart of Cities), the event was organ ised by residents living in the oldest part of the city.

Talks and lectures were held in the function room at the Priests’ Residence in the

Plaza de la Catedral.

Accompanied by Antonio Llaguno, a former Cuevas mayor who is also a writer, Fernandez Liria gave a talk detailing the conservation and restoration of Cuevas own Old Quarter.

This, the mayor explained, has involved rehabilitating important cultural and his toric gems including the 15th century Marques de los Velez Castle, the 18th centu ry Nuestra Señora de la En

carnacion church and the town’s architecturally impos ing 19th century mansions.

Fernandez Liria also ex plained plans for future pro jects that will revitalise Cuevas’ Old Quarter with its traditional shops and busi nesses for which he hopes to receive EU funding.

“I am determined to con tinue protecting and pro moting Cuevas del Almanzo ra’s Old Quarter,” he declared.

ALMERIA City Council has promised to grant subsi dies for adapted taxis and for the purchase of eco‐ve hicles

The Local Government Board has approved grant ing subsidies to 14 profes sionals who provide taxi services with cars adapted for people with reduced mobility in the municipali ty of Almeria. The total

Eco taxis

amount of the grants awarded is €40,000.

This amount comes in addition to a further grant of €40,000 to taxi drivers for the purchase of eco ve hicles or vehicles with zero emissions.

The council has also ap proved the declaration of abandonment of 92 vehi

cles that are in the Munici pal Depot, urging the con cessionary company Dornier to transfer them to an authorised centre for their subsequent destruc tion and decontamination.

In total, eight vans, 59 cars, one lorry, five motor bikes, 16 mopeds, two bi cycles and a moped chas sis will be transferred to the centre to be de stroyed.

APPROXIMATELY 126,000 Almeria Province households can expect to save 40 per cent on their electricity bills throughout 2023.

Outlining modifications in electricity and gas prices this winter, Jose Maria Martin, the central government’s Sub‐delegate to Almeria, said these changes would benefit around 500,000 people, bear ing in mind that the average house or apartment usually has four occupants.

A 40 per cent reduction will

Friends electric

apply to families on low in comes affected by the crisis, Martin said. There would be greater protection for vulner able consumers, an advance towards energy‐efficiency, particularly as regards street lighting, while promoting re newables and own consump tion of on‐site electricity.

“At an exceptional time like the present, the government is taking steps to rise to the

challenge of that exceptional ity,” Martin said.

“This is the way to tackle the economic crisis and infla tion it has created, helping the families and sectors that are experiencing the most dif ficulties,” the Sub‐delegate added.

“Other methods, on the other hand, use formulas that only benefit those who have the most.”

on October 27 by Carolina España, who heads the Economy department.

She was accompanied by Ramon Fernandez‐Pacheco,

Anna EWllis

2023 BUDGET: Carolina España and Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco.

Photo credit: Junta de Andalucia

Lighting up

RESIDENTS near rural roads in the agricul tural area of La Canada are celebrating after being promised better public lighting.

Councillor for Town Planning and Infras tructures Ana Martinez Labell confirmed: “Almeria City Council continues to take firm steps towards fulfilling its commitment to its residents to provide public lighting on municipal roads.”

The Local Government Board awarded the contract for services for the drafting of

THE Costa de Almeria was once again shining at its best in a national prime‐time pro gramme, Celebrity Mas terChef, on TVE.

The programme, which was recorded during the summer in the Cabo de Ga ta‐Nijar Natural Park in such idyllic places as Agua Amar ga, was shown on Monday, October 31.

The Provincial Council, through the gourmet brand Sabores Almería, joined the television programme to

the lighting project to the company Hesar Ingenieria SL for a total of €9,183.90. Five companies competed in the tender proce dure opened by the Council’s Environmen tal Sustainability Department.

Improvements are also to be carried out on a municipal site, near the mouth of the Andarax River next to the facilities of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, for the temporary use of feral cat colonies in Alme ria that have to be moved from their usual location.

TV MasterChef

promote the province of Almeria from a tourist and gastronomic point of view.

The mayor of Almeria, Ra mon Fernandez‐Pacheco, thanked the programme’s production team for “having once again set their sights on the province of Almeria and for highlighting the province’s potential.

“In addition to our spec tacular beaches, and the

hospitality of the people of Almeria, we have a unique gastronomy, full of personal ity and this is where some of the best products can be found,” he added.

The mayor also confirmed that: “Celebrity MasterChef is a magnificent opportunity for millions of people to get to know the quality of our tourist destination and food production.”

Anna Ellis

All getting involved

VERA Town Hall held a further meeting with local associa tions and representatives for families, schools, the elderly and media.

They were there to discuss the creation of Vera’s Agenda Urbana 2030, a roadmap for growth and the town’s future over the coming years, con tributing to building a pros perous, resilient, open and in

clusive municipality.

It will be based on recom mendations from the UN, the European Union and Spain’s central government for ac cessing the different types of funding that will be required for carrying out the town’s Ac tion Plan.

“The involvement and par ticipation of the municipality’s economic and social agents will be required if we are to

succeed in this,” she said. Carnicer went on to com mend the large turnout for the second Agenda Urbana 2030 meeting and the com mitment and interest of those present. This October 27 meeting followed her earlier consultation with approxi mately 50 business owners as the town hall continues to in volve all local society in mak ing plans for Vera’s future.

Big enough to cope

MOJACAR’S mayor Rosa Maria Cano welcomed the Junta’s €19 million pro ject for a new EDAR wastewater treat ment plant.

Thanking the regional government for resolving the inadequate situation of the existing plant, Cano pointed out that the Junta’s predecessors had con sistently failed to respond to this re quest, first made 14 years ago.

The present EDAR on the Garrucha‐Los Gallardos road was built 25 years ago, and the installation has become

outdated owing to the passage of time and Mojacar’s population increase in re cent years, which is particularly notice able during the summer months.

On her recent visit to Mojacar, Car men Crespo who heads the Junta’s Agri culture department, described the new EDAR as a historic investment that would benefit the entire Levante area.

“The Mojacar plant is one of the most important in Almeria and the Andalucia government is going to relaunch the ex tension project,” Crespo said.

Linda Hall

Anna Ellis

THE works to improve the asphalting of Calle La Mo jonera and Avenida Pablo Picasso have now been completed in Roquetas de Mar.

The works to replace the pavement on these roads also include renewal of the pavement, as well as hori zontal markings and the repair of manholes.

With this set of improve ment works, whose global budget exceeds €400,000, the city council is going to work on more than 20 streets in the city centre where the pavements have deteriorated.

The mayor of Roquetas de Mar, Gabriel Amat Ayl lon, explained that “we are going to continue working along the same

Smooth ride

lines to improve the state of the roads in all neigh bourhoods.

“Our priority is to con tinue improving all ser vices and respond to all the demands and requests

that the residents send us.

“Our responsibility is to provide the city with the best infrastructure, in this case, to guarantee safe and well‐maintained pub lic roads,” he added.

Playground facelift

ALMERIA City Council plans to invest €400,000 in the remodelling of four chil dren’s areas located on the Rambla Federico García Lorca. The refurbishments will be comprehensive, creating new children’s playgrounds and rest and shade areas.

The project, which is now awaiting a tender, has a total budget of €409,505 and a completion period of three months.

The approved project foresees the provision of a new playground for differ ent ages, from three to 12 years old with an improve

You’re not alone

Linda Hall

APPROXIMATELY 100 users of Levante day centres cel ebrated Older Persons Day at the Los Gallardos sports centre.

The get‐together for the Pulpi, Antas, Cuevas del Al manzora and Los Gallardo centres, which are by Almeria’s Federation of Associations for Persons (FAAM) with Disabilities, had backing from the Diputacion provincial council.

“Today we are celebrating a day which recognises your decades of work, effort and sacrifices,” the Diputacion vice‐president Eugenio Jesus Gonzalvez Garcia, told those present.

“Almeria Province is proud of you. All that we are and all that we have is thanks to you, your work and your determination.”

Gonzalvez also thanked the FAAM for accompany ing and assisting the elderly and those with disabili ties.

“Physical health is important, but so is mental health,” he said. “FAAM also takes care of the soul and feelings. Sometimes affection and a kind gesture are as important and decisive as the daily routine.”

FAAM manager Isabel Valdes emphasised that the Los Gallardos gathering was meant to remind the el derly that they were not alone. “FAAM is at your side and we are also present in rural areas,” she added.

ment in pedestrian accessi bility.

The entire play areas will have safety pavements made in situ with an artifi cial grass finish in order to give the areas greater com fort and quality. The rest of the areas will be paved with terrazzo tiles.

Daring rescue

THREE immigrants were rescued by Salvamento Marítimo on Sunday morning, October 30. The three immigrants were of Maghrebi origin and were res cued on a jet ski that was adrift 53.71 kilometres south of Alme ria.

A Maritime Rescue spokesman confirmed that it was the vessel ‘Santiago’ which alerted the Almeria coordination of the sighting of the jet ski.

The vessel ‘Salvamar Spica’ was mobilised to the scene, al though another vessel, the ‘Ciu dad de Cadiz’, was requested to remain in the vicinity of the im migrants until its arrival.

At around 11.30am, the ‘Sal vamar Spica’ picked up the three men and moved them to the port of Almeria, where they ar rived at around 2.30pm.

ASPHALTING: The pavements have been replaced.

Image: Serato/Shutterstock.com

Ukraine gives thanks

UKRAINE’S Defence Minis ter Oleksii Reznikov has thanked Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles for the new support from the Spanish military.

Speaking at a news video conference meeting be tween the two on Thursday, October 27, Reznikov and Robles discussed the cur rent situation in Ukraine and various aspects of the Spanish military support provided to the war‐torn country since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Spain’s Robles gave an update on current ship ments of material and

equipment and detailed the forecasts for future deliver ies over the coming weeks.

She said that Spain would maintain “all the necessary effort, as it has been doing throughout these eight months of war” and re vealed that Spain “feels very proud of the courage

of the Ukrainian people and armed forces.”

Reznikov shared his grati tude to Spain for its support over the past eight months.

He added that he “greatly appreciated the speed of Spain’s reaction to the new needs that have arisen on the ground.”

Out of fashion

SPANISH fashion retail group Inditex has sold its Russian stores after sus pending sales in March of this year fol lowing the invasion of Ukraine.

It has now written to the National Se curities Market Council advising that it has reached an initial agreement for the sale of its business in the Russian Federation to Daher group based in the United Arab Emirates.

Daher has significant interests in the retail and real estate industry and the currently unreleased full terms of the transaction, which is subject to govern

ment approval, will enable the preser vation of a substantial number of jobs generated by Inditex Group in Russia.

This is not a simple way of ‘white washing’ continued trade in Russia by supplying branded goods to Daher and the agreement anticipates the takeover of the 515 stores and their staff.

Daher will (subject to agreement of landlords of the properties where leas es are being transferred) rename the stores and stock their own brands which are completely unrelated to Indi tex.

Economic excitement

SPAIN is set to eventually recover pre‐pandem ic economic activity levels, in 2024. The Inde pendent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (Airef) announced its forecast on Monday Octo ber 24, as part of its macroeconomic analysis and budget report.

The authority predicts that the Spanish econ omy will enter a technical recession in the fourth quarter of this year, and will continue to experience a falling GDP in the first quarter of 2023.

However, it expects the economy to make a

recovery to end 2023 with a 1.5 per cent growth rate in GDP and recover pre‐pandemic econom ic activity levels by 2024.

The Director of Economic Analysis, Esther Gordo explained that the technical recession does not mean that the Spanish economy is ac tually in recession, highlighting that employ ment is increasing and GDP has grown this year.

With falls in GDP being forecast for other Eu ropean countries in 2023, including Germany and Italy, Gordo added that it will be hard for Spain to avoid the trend.

DEFENCE: Ukraine thanks Spain for continued support from Spanish military.

Cancer breakthrough

Betty Henderson

A MONUMENTAL moment was achieved for cancer re search on October 27 as scientists in Barcelona de veloped a drug that suc cessfully targets a cancer

causing gene. The drug showed promising results in phase one clinical trials.

The drug targets the gene ‘MYC’, which causes and maintains most com mon types of cancer, in

Landmark for Ukrainians

A MILESTONE was reached on October 26, as Spain an nounced it has now welcomed more than 150,000 Ukrainians fleeing war following the Russian invasion.

The announcement means that Spain has been one of the most welcoming countries to Ukrainian refugees in Europe.

More than 64 per cent of the Ukrainian refugees granted asylum in Spain are women, and almost 35 per cent are chil dren according to figures from the Spanish Ministry of the In terior. A total of 150,078 asylum applications have been pro cessed and granted in the eight months since the scheme opened on March 10.

Statistics revealed that the Valencian Community led in terms of numbers of Ukrainian refugees resettled with 38,873. Catalonia closely followed with 34,070, then Madrid with 22,002 and Andaluc’a with 21,305 Ukrainians welcomed. An emergency scheme to deal with asylum requests created in March has been responsible for the rapid resettlement. Au thorities have a maximum of 24 hours to decide the outcome of asylum applications from Ukrainian refugees which has sped up the process.

Temporary protections granted to successful applicants in clude residency and a work permit.

cluding breast, lung, ovari an and prostate cancers.

Scientists at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of On cology in Barcelona devel oped a mini‐protein called OMO‐103 which can reach the nucleus of cells. It en tered clinical trials in April 2021 and was tested on a range of cancers.

Dr Elena Garralda, Direc tor of the Early Drug Devel opment Unit at the oncolo gy institute explained why the finding was significant saying, “To date, no drug that inhibits MYC has been approved for clinical use.” The drug will now progress to phase two clinical trials, which is unprecedented.

The drug does not have any significant side effects except one case of pan creas inflammation which will be further tested.

Scientists said that can cer is most effectively tar geted through a ‘multi‐pronged approach’ and a drug like this could be revo lutionary.

Forecast fortunes

Betty Henderson

SPAIN’S famous weather boy, Jorge Rey, has re leased his weather predic tions for the upcoming win ter. And we don’t have long to wait for rainfall and even snow, which is due in November according to the aspiring meteorologist.

Appearing on Telecinco on October 24, Rey an nounced that he expects ‘significant’ rainfall during November that will put an end to months of drought in some areas of the coun try. He also expects some snowfall in medium to high

altitudes during November.

He expects further snow fall in December and Ja nury, hinting at the possibil ity of a repeat of 2021 Storm Filomena which brought unusually high snowfall to Spain and Por tugal.

The 16‐year‐old from a small town near Burgos has

a passion for the weather and has been rapidly gain ing fans from all over the country with fascinating predictions.

His methods of predic tion are not scientifically‐sound, opting to use the traditional cabañuelas sys tem of predicting the weather by observing na ture, but that hasn’t stopped him from amassing more than 14,000 social media followers.

Rey learned the ancient system from a local shep herd and has been develop ing his passion ever since.

Persistent prices

THE Spanish property market defies Euro pean trends of property value, as values in Spain remain high despite European dips in value.

Economists at the European Central Bank reported a general fall in house values in the Eurozone in early October, but Spain is flout ing the trend as property values remain sta ble.

The news comes as a report revealed that non‐resident foreigners are still keen to spend money on Spanish property, and pay a lot more than foreign residents or Spanish

nationals on property. Furthermore, proper ty experts in Spain say that supply of proper ties is likely to remain below demand, so a steep drop in property value will be avoided in Spain.

A report by the Spanish Notary Council re vealed that foreign non‐residents spend an average of €2,522 per square metre on property in Spain, compared with foreign residents who spend an average of €1,622 per square metre, and Spanish nationals who pay €1,560 per square metre for prop erty.

Traveller arrested in Iran

A MISSING Spanish adventurer was reportedly found in an Iranian prison on Wednesday October 26. Santiago Sánchez Cogedor was allegedly arrested alongside his translator after visiting the tomb of Mahsa Amini, the 22‐year‐old Iranian woman murdered at the hands of the country’s morality police.

The Real Madrid fan was undertaking the epic journey from Madrid to Doha on foot, to watch the World Cup in November, when he went missing around three weeks ago. Sánchez Cogedor was thought to have gone missing on the border between Iraq and Iran

A national TV channel then broke the news of his arrest, saying he was arrest ed in Saqez, a border city in Iranian Kurdistan. Reporters later alleged that the adventurer had been taken to the Sanandaj Prison near to the border, “which is where they usually send foreigners.”

A FUTURISTIC aero‐taxi service was tested in a town in Jaen on October 26. The air taxi proto type is part of the European Uspace4UAM pro ject, which advocates for sustainable and alter native forms of public transport.

The drone‐like air taxi has been developed by Umiles Next and Tecnalia technology com panies and took its maiden public flight at the Atlas Experimental Flight Centre in Villacarrillo. Air taxis could speed up journeys and could be particularly useful for emergency services.

The aero‐taxi has been developed with in vestments from the European Horizon 2020

Flying taxi

fund as part of the European U‐Space system which is investigating ways that drones could be used in urban environments for everyday tasks.

Representatives from technology and trans port industries watched the aero‐taxi launch alongside members of the regional govern ment, including Luis Miguel Carmona, who highlighted that safety is a priority with the in ventions.

Weather boy is forecasting significant rainfall.

KING CHARLES has moved to increase the number of working roy als by extending the number who can act as counsellors of state in a move that could act as a reprieve for Prince An drew.

Announced on Wednesday, October 26

Prince Andrew’s reprieve

it is believed that the move is designed to bring about greater family har mony by not replacing those that have been dis

graced or side‐lined.

According to sources, the Regency Act is ex pected to be amended to allow the Earl of Wessex

and the Princess Royal to take on counsellor roles.

That means the king will not have to relieve either Prince Harry or Prince Andrew of their duties, whilst maintain ing the level of support that the king needs in conducting official busi

ness and in his absence, using letters patent.

The Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, says that the spouse of a monarch and the next four in line to the throne aged over 21 can act as counsellors.

Currently that is the Queen Consort, the

Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice, however this move would now allow the Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal to take on counsel lor roles without replac ing Princes Harry or An drew.

A BOOK that was borrowed from a library back in 1938 has finally been returned after 84 years, as reported by a na tional news agency on, Thurs day, October 27. The grand son of the man who took the book out was subsequently hit with a fine of £18.27 for bringing it back late.

Captain William Humphries originally borrowed a copy of the nature book ‘Red Deer’ from the Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library in Coven try. He took it home for his daughter Anne to read and went unnoticed on the

84 years late

shelves of his home.

Mr Humphries passed away in 1957, and his daugh ter also died recently. While going through his grandfa ther’s belongings, Paddy Rior dan happened upon the book. He promptly returned it to the Coventry library where he was informed of the fine of

one old penny for each week that the book was overdue. If a fine had been issued at today’s current rate of 25p per day a book is overdue, then Paddy would have faced a stiffer penalty of £7,673.

A copy of the same book can be found on Amazon for just under £4.

Charity at home

MORE of the UK’s foreign aid budget is being spent in Britain rather than in poor developing countries, according to a report by the Centre for Global Development (CGD).

The report released on Saturday, October 29 said that is because a large percentage of the money set aside for aid is being spent on housing and supporting refugees.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when Chancellor, changed the rules slashing the budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent as well as allowing the Home Office and other depart ments to redirect funds intended for international aid. That meant these funds can be spent locally but still be classified as international aid.

A GOOD England World Cup run is always a winner for pubs, clubs and restaurants as the fans come out in their droves to support their team.

But that could, according to a report by one publication, result in some beer supplies running dangerously low.

David Forde, Chief Execu tive of Bulmers said post‐pan demic supplies had been pret ty robust, but demand had yet to return to levels seen be

Lager saga

fore.

He explained that next month’s football World Cup in Qatar could put strain on sup plies with demand expected to rise sharply.

He said: “Were England to go on and win the World Cup,

yeah, we might face some challenges.

“But they would be positive challenges, as that would mean demand is pretty high and people are out celebrat ing.

“That’s a bit of a bet ‐ we

don’t know how that is going to work out.”

Pubs and clubs across the UK and elsewhere are hoping that England do have a good run, with many expecting a huge payday if the country does get through to the final.

This is particularly true for those establishments where there is a strong England com munity, including in many commonwealth countries and Spain.

A BRITISH kayaker who was trying to paddle across the English Chan nel to France has been rescued after his inflat able capsized.

On Friday, October 28 the man was found in just

Brit kayaker rescued

his swimming trunks clinging to a buoy by Dutch fisherman.

The man told crew that he had been there for

nearly 48 hours after his kayak capsized.

Captain, Teunis de Boer, said he spotted him as they were sailing

across the sea. He said he saw him “waving like a madman.”

The crew hauled the man aboard and gave him lifesaving assistance, with his body temperature having dropped to 26ºC. He was also covered in bruises and said to be de hydrated.

The man was given a Snickers bar and wrapped in blankets.

They then contacted the coastguard, which re sulted in the French send ing a helicopter out to rescue the man, who was taken to a hospital in Boulogne.

Cult show returns

LEGENDARY quiz show Deal Or No Deal is reportedly set to re turn to television screens eight years after being axed, with Stephen Mulhern replacing Noel Edmonds as host.

The show ran originally for 11 years.

Stephen Mulhern will reportedly now be in charge of the 22 sealed red boxes containing unknown varying sums of money, which contestants must eliminate as the game progresses. They are also up against the anonymous ‘banker’ who tries to tempt them into gambling their potential prize away.

“Deal Or No Deal was absolutely huge back in the day and pulled in millions of viewers,” the source told one publication, “ITV think there is still a huge appetite for it and thinks they could make a huge success of the show if they brought it back.

“Plans for the reboot are in the very early stages and the de tails of when it could come back are being closely guarded,” they explained. “There have been discussions around Noel possibly returning, but ITV decided they want to give the show a completely fresh look and feel.”

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

WORLD CUP: The England squad are hoping for a good run.

Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame

Peter McLaren-Kennedy

ANDY WARHOL said that ev eryone gets 15 minutes of fame, but according to Ramon Hervey II, whose new book is out, he said that is not quite true.

Ramon, a publicist turned artist and brand manager, has worked with some of the best that the world of acting, music and sport have to offer. Speak ing exclusively to Euro Weekly News he said that there was some truth in what Warhol said in that fame can arrive in an instant, but it can go just as quickly.

Speaking about how the en tertainment world has changed, he said “it now takes much more than talent to be come famous.”

For a starter he said fame doesn’t come by accident. It takes hard work, dedication

Credit @delphinediallo

and an understanding and commitment to what comes with being famous. And that commitment he said is some thing not everyone is willing to make.

Ramon said that over the years he has turned down many artists either be cause they have not given any thought to the steps that need to be taken to be famous, or because their obsession with fame got in the way.

Artists he said, are the en tertainment world’s business es. That means having an un derstanding of where you want to be and how you are going to get there. Drawing on his experience with the likes of Mohammed Ali, Bette Midler and Quincy Jones, Ramon out lines in the book how you can achieve fame and most impor tantly how you can nurture it.

When asked what advice he would give someone who is starting out, he said “you need to understand what fame in volves and you need to be comfortable with that.” He said that is particularly impor tant in today’s world where fans want access to artists they never enjoyed before.

The rise of social media means that fans want to know everything about you, where you have been and what you do and that he said, is not for everyone. Having a good man ager who can partner with you in planning your path and in managing your fame can help you through the ups and downs of the entertainment business.

The book - ‘The Fame Game - An insider’s playbook for earning your 15 minutes’ is out now and is available from book stores and online.

RAMON HERVEY II: His new book is available from book stores and online.

Guitar jammin’

THE Museum of the Spanish Guitar ‘Antonio de Torres’ is more than a museum space, it is an exhibition and information centre that al lows visitors to learn in a pleasant and simple way the main keys of one of the most popular musical in struments in the world, the guitar.

The most played and manufactured instrument in the history of world music comes from the hand of its greatest precursor, the luthi er Antonio de Torres, con sidered the father of the contemporary guitar.

For this reason the De

partment of Culture of Almeria City Council, as the main promoter of the pro ject, intends that visitors ac tively participate in the mu

THE Andalucian Photography Centre in Almeria City brings to light the important photographic heritage of the Andalucian region in the exhibition El Retrato which is on display until December 4.

Collections of the Andalucian Centre of Photography which, for the first time, brings together in one exhibition a wide selection of 70 photographers, showing the different styles and approaches to

seum itself and ultimately in the cultural life of the city of Almeria.

The Museum offers par ticipants much more than a simple succession of pieces, it is a surprising, relevant, in teractive and attractive cul tural space, open to all the public and visitors.

Address: Ronda del Beato Diego Ventaja, S/N, 04002

Almeria

Telephone: 950 274 358 Monday closed Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am to 1.30pm and from 6.00pm to 9.00pm Sundays: from 10.30am to 1.30pm

Fab photos

the portrait genre which have nourished the Centre’s collection since its creation almost three decades ago.

The exhibition is open to the public un til Sunday December 4, every day from 11.00am to 2.00pm and from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

Rock n Roll

ON Sunday, November 13, at 12.00pm the Cervantes The atre in Almeria is proud to present family fun, I Love Rock n Roll! ‘Rock en Familia’ is a show that makes rock ac cessible to the youngest members of the family and perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Young and old have a great time with the experi ence of live music while dis covering the history and songs of some of the most im portant and relevant artists in the history of rock and pop. In addition to the concert, which takes place at a moder

ate volume so as not to dam age little ones’ ears, a story teller will talk about the histo ry of groups such as U2, ACDC, Nirvana, Queen, The Beatles, Iron Maiden, Metallica.

Experiencing the first con certs with your children, nephews, nieces or grandchil dren while they discover the best bands in the history of rock will be an experience they will never forget.

For more information head to Cervantes Theatre at Calle Poeta Villaespesa, Almeria, 04001 or call (+34) 635 262 626.

COME and join in the fes tive fun on Saturday De cember 10, for a fantastic evening of food and mu sic and help raise money for Paws-Patas and the wonderful work that they do for animals that are so desperately in need.

The event will be held at the Hotel El Puntazo, Mojacar Playa and will start at 7.00pm. Enter tainment will be provided by Andy Owens and there will be a buffet style menu with wine and wa ter included.

Tickets cost €28 and are available at any of the Paws-Patas’ outlets or by calling 647 240 032 . Readers who would like more information about this event or the work that Paws-Patas do, please visit www.pawspatas.org

FAMILY FUN: While also discovering history of the groups.

Christmas dinner and danceImage: Cervantes Theatre

Learn about the guitar.

Image: Museum of the Spanish Guitar

A LITHIUM mine is due to be built in the centre of France, as European coun tries race to find alternative energy sources to fossil fu els. Minerals company, Imerys announced the ‘Emili Project’ on Tuesday October 25 which is set to mine the metal for use in electric batteries.

Lithium, often dubbed

‘white gold’, is an essential component in the produc tion of electric vehicles, as it is used in batteries.

The EU currently imports most of its lithium, with President Ursula von der

Leyen expressing concern that “China controls the global processing industry,” as 60 per cent of the world’s lithium is processed there.

This French project could be particularly lucrative, as

European industry seeks al ternative lithium sources.

Imerys explained that the site at the existing Beauvoir kaolin quarry contains one million tonnes of lithium, which would allow 34,000

‘White gold’ rush Cargo queues

AS the global energy crisis con tinues, ships carrying gas are building up in the waters around Europe. Energy experts announced on Tuesday Octo ber 25 that a bottleneck situa tion had been created as huge oil tankers wait to unload off the coasts of Europe.

As European countries rushed to stock up on gas ahead of winter, storage facili ties are now more full than

usual. In fact, the latest data suggests that gas storage facili ties in Europe are at 95 per cent of their capacity, on aver age.

Some ships carrying gas are being unloaded, but demand for facilities to turn the liquified gas back into gas is high. Eu rope usually relies on pipelines to Russia, so doesn’t have many heating facilities to com plete the process. Some coun

tries including the Netherlands and Germany have invested in new conversion facilities, but they are yet to become func tional.

The weather in Europe has been unseasonably mild into autumn, which means less gas has been required for heating. Experts hope the situation will be resolved as the gas is used and supply and demand is brought back under control.

First female PM

ITALY’S first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni gave an inaugural speech on Tuesday Oc tober 25, in which she said she felt “a burden weighing on my shoulders” as the first woman to lead the country.

During the speech, the new prime minister reiterated her stance against illegal immigration as well as endorsing NATO and support for Ukraine. Meloni also distanced herself and the rul ing coalition from Mussolini‐era racial laws and past fascism.

Meloni still needs to pass votes of confidence in both chambers of the house of parliament, but is likely to do so due to popularity of parties in the coalition. Meloni received 70 rounds of applause during the speech which lasted more than one hour.

Despite having described herself as against ‘pink quotas’ of female representation, and be ing criticised by feminists who have called her politics patriarchal, Meloni opened her speech by listing 11 inspirational Italian women from throughout history.

tonnes of extraction every year for 25 years. The lithi um extracted could be used to produce more than 700,000 electric vehicles per year.

Project leaders are in the last stages of a technical evaluation for the project which is set to receive €1 billion in capital invest ment.

Lithium is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles.

Photo credit: Smile Fight / shutterstock.com

Ancient ambition

AN ancient dream to construct a bridge from mainland Italy to Sicily has been revived by new Minister for In frastructure, Matteo Salvini. The minister

announced a bridge as one of his objectives in the role on Monday October 24.

A bridge across the Strait of Messina was also a priority for an

cient Romans, who al legedly constructed a bridge of barrels to transport 140 ele phants captured from the Carthaginians dur ing the Punic Wars from Sicily to the mainland.

The plans are contro versial due to the dan ger involved. The area in the Strait of Messina is the site of a 1908 earthquake that killed more than 120,000 people and has one of the biggest seismic risks in Europe, so a bridge is considered impractical and dan gerous.

Engineers also say a bridge would be hugely costly and would have a negative environ mental impact. Salvini however said that the construction scheme would create 100,000 jobs and cut costs from ferry trips.

International intimidation

ILLEGAL Chinese ‘police sta tions’ were identified in the Netherlands by Dutch au thorities on October 25.

China is accused of setting up illegal ‘police stations’ to track and silence dissidents in Europe.

‘Overseas service stations’ that purported to offer diplo matic services are accused of tracking and harassing Chi nese dissidents in Europe.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry

Art attack

A BIZZARE climate protest saw activists in Potsdam, Ger many throwing mashed potato at a Monet painting on Sun day October 23. Protestors from the Letzte Generation (Last Generation) targeted Monet’s Les Meules (Haystacks) paint ing at the Museum Barberini, before gluing themselves to the wall.

The stunt was posted on the group’s social media pages afterwards describing it as a wake‐up call about the climate crisis saying, “People are starving, people are freezing, peo ple are dying,” adding “Does it take mashed potatoes on a painting to make you listen? This painting is not going to be worth anything if we have to fight over food.”

The controversial protest shocked many in the art indus try, but museum staff announced that the painting did not appear to be damaged due to a glass screen in the frame.

A spokesperson for the gallery said that police came to the scene and removed the protesters from the wall “rela tively easily.”

said that at least two unau thorised ‘police stations’ it found in the Netherlands were illegal. An investigation into Chinese policing in Eu rope was launched following a Spanish report by an NGO which uncovered intimidat ing practices from the sup posed diplomatic assistance centres.

One Chinese dissident, Wang Jingyu, alleged that Chinese police were illegally pursuing him in the Nether lands, including making threats about his family in China. Jingyu received threat ening phone calls from au thorities claiming to be based in Chinese ‘overseas service stations’ located in the Netherlands.

Police authorities from two Chinese provinces have es tablished ‘overseas service stations’ across Europe, in cluding nine locations in Spain and four in Italy.

Chinese authorities reject ed the accusations as untrue, with the Chinese Embassy saying it was unaware of these ‘police stations’.

PRESSEUROPEAN

DENMARK

Green question

THE European Union has granted €8.5 million to researchers from the University of Copenhagen to help them investigate how long-ago Greenland was actually green as by drilling deep ice cores, they can gauge when there were forests and what trees they consisted of.

THE NETHERLANDS

Asian invader

MODERN technology is being used in the Dutch Government’s fight against the invading Asian hornet which kills and eats honey bees and other insects, as for the first time ever scientists managed to attach a tiny transmitter to an individual that returned to its nest.

BELGIUM

Chip crisis

INFLATION has hit one of the nation’s favourites as the president of the Belgian Frites Association has announced that the price of a single portion of frites will probably rise by between 10 and 20 per cent by the end of this year.

GERMANY

High time

TAKING over from Holland as the most liberal country with regards to cannabis in the European Union, the German government has announced that it will legalise the possession for personal use of up to one ounce of cannabis as well as allow its sale from regulated shops.

FRANCE

Supermarket sweep

POLICE in the south-west town of Lons were called to a supermarket where staff had discovered that a 47-year-old Parisian man had stayed there overnight, consuming prawns, crisps, sausages and a bottle of whisky before trying to abscond with six computers worth €3,000.

NORWAY

Suspected spy

POLICE have arrested an academic working at the University of Tromsø in the Arctic Circle on suspicion of secretly spying for Russia and they have told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that although he claims to be Brazilian, they believe he is a Russian with fake papers.

FINLAND

Gender equality

THE most recent index compiled by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has ranked Finland fourth in the European Union trailing Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, but still significantly higher than the EU average and a significant advance on 2010 results.

IRELAND

Open all hours

A SUDDEN decision reportedly made by the Irish Justice Minister to recommend that nightclubs in the Republic be allowed to remain open until 6am without apparently any consultation with the Gardai (police force) is causing significant concern as officers fear that they will be under resourced.

ITALY

Cliff hanger

PERHAPS he was watching the movie Speed but a bus driver on Rome’s 32 bus service has been suspended without pay by public transport company ATAC after a passenger posted a video of the driver watching a film as he manoeuvred through Rome’s busy streets.

PORTUGAL

Brewers droop

BREWERS and beer drinkers are not happy with the Portuguese government as beer currently carries a 23 per cent tax as opposed to wine which is 13 per cent, but a 2023 proposal sees a further 4 per cent added to beer prices whilst wine escapes.

UKRAINE

Twin towns

VISITING Kyiv and having to spend time in an air raid shelter due to fear of attack, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced that the Bavarian town of Waldkirchen, would become twinned with Koriukivka in Chernihiv as a sign of German support and friendship with Ukraine.

SWEDEN Snakes alive

PROBABLY the most venomous reptile in the world, a King Cobra initially named Sir Vas (Sir Hiss) and now known as Houdini has escaped from the Skansen Aquarium in Stockholm after discovering that newly installed low energy bulbs were not too hot to squeeze past.

STAT OF WEEK €4.84 billion

is the amount that Spanish bank BBVA earned in the first nine months of 2022, an increase of 46 per cent over the previous year.

ECB rate hike FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

50p coin

THE UK Royal Mint has start ed producing the first coin featuring the effigy of King Charles III to be put into gen eral circulation. The 50p coin which carries the same de sign as the Queen’s Corona tion coin of 1953 on its re verse will start to circulate in December.

GDP stalls

THE initial forecast from the National Institute of Statis tics (INE) suggests that busi ness growth in the third quarter of 2022 has almost stalled and Spain’s GDP has increased by just 0.2 per cent even though the summer saw a large influx of tourists.

Empty shops

ALTHOUGH some UK High Streets especially in the North and Wales are a little like ghost towns, a report by BRC and Local Data Compa ny suggests that there are slightly fewer empty shops in the third quarter with the figure standing at 13.9 per cent.

Saudi relations

THE third Saudi‐Spanish Joint Committee meeting in Madrid ended with a com mitment from both govern ments to continue to work together to allow Spanish companies to assist Saudi Arabia in increasing its indus trial and technological base and for Saudis to increase in vestment in Spain.

M&S news

THE ongoing question con cerning the flagship Marks and Spencer building in Ox ford Street continues as the company has now warned an enquiry that it will close its shop location if its plans to demolish and rebuild the property are refused, accord ing to the BBC.

Spain’s 2023 budget

THOSE with money to invest in the eurozone will be pleased that on Thursday October 27, the Eu ropean Central Bank (ECB) decid ed to raise interest rates again to try to stem the problem of infla tion.

Adding 0.75 per cent to make the new loan rate of 1.5 per cent the highest since 2009, the ECB in dicated that there is likely to be at least one further increase before the end of the year.

In addition, and as forewarned by the Governor of the Bank of Spain, the bank is also trying to call in loans taken at low rates by commercial banks throughout the 19 eurozone member states.

Girl’s best friend

SPAIN’S 2023 Budget overcame its first approval hurdle on Thursday October 27 when proposed amendments were rejected by the Lower House.

Having to rely on the support of po litical parties that do not form part of the government is to some extent a gamble but it appears that at the mo ment the government can rely on support from the minor parties.

In Parliament the Minister of Fi nance and Public Administration, María Jesús Montero, thanked the political groups that voted against the amendments to the public accounts and said that she would continue,

during the coming weeks, to negoti ate with those parties in order to en sure approval of the Budget, incorpo rating any improvements that may be agreed upon during the process.

During the full debate that took place in Congress, Minister Montero argued that the 2023 General Bud gets are essential to send a message of economic stability in a context of uncertainty due to the Russian inva sion of Ukraine.

It prioritises social justice, by strengthening the Welfare State and will allocate six out of every €10 to so cial spending and economic efficiency

that will promote inclusive growth, the creation of quality employment and the transformation of industry thanks to the European Recovery Fund.

During her speeches, the minister made it clear that the 2023 Budget valued as €274.445 billion include measures that benefit the middle and working class, protect vulnerable groups and help the productive fabric.

At the same time, the accounts maintain the commitment to fiscal consolidation by reducing the deficit and public debt, which will continue their downward path.

Quirky idea that might sell

A UNIQUE new sparkling wine will be available in Spain in the New Year as it comes in three forms, Sin gle, Married and Divorced.

This is a new private label sparkling wine from France created by Irene Patar who believes that everyone should be encouraged to celebrate their relationship status.

Launching first in the USA for the Holiday Season and New Year, Patar said “I con ceptualised Single Married Divorced as a way for all of us to raise a glass to cele brate who we are. I know it’s not easy out there. I know. I’ve been married to my husband for almost 20

years and sometimes I feel like all three in one day!”

She laughingly added “Nobody’s perfect. But de spite all that, I believe it’s

time for all of us to live it up and celebrate who we are and be proud of it!”

Speaking about the jour ney to create the label, she

explained “In the last 20 years, I’ve evolved so much.

“In the beginning of my marriage, I lived my life through my husband’s eyes. I wasn’t being me. Eventual ly I had an awakening and started taking control of my life and the person I wanted to be. And I celebrate that every day.”

Regardless of your rela tionship status, if you need to celebrate or commiser ate, then you can choose to enjoy being Single, Married or Divorced with the fizz which will be available in Spain from Bodega Maes trazgo in Barcelona from next year.

THE two words ‘blood diamonds’ brings to life the horror of coun tries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone torn apart by civil war, with diamonds being one of the main targets of rebels.

In theory, a code exists where by jewellers can trace the history of a diamond to ensure it hasn’t been extracted by slave labour, but a company in the UK Opsydia is now able to use its invention to penetrate the surface of any dia mond and micro engrave its provenance.

This is even more important now that man made diamonds are so good that they can easily confuse all except for experts.

Taking off

DESPITE all of the doom and gloom forecast by airlines dur ing the pandemic, the latest fig ures from IAG which owns Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling make good reading for shareholders.

Leisure travel has bounced back in the first three quarters of 2022 and the group has de clared an operating profit of €770 million as opposed to a loss of €2.487 billion in the same period of 2021.

Income continues to grow even though it has been restrict ed in the number of flights that it can run out of London Heathrow and many of the Asia‐Pacific routes are still closed.

YOU: Minister Montero in black dress celebrates the vote.

3I Group 1.177,50 1.179,46 1.162,00 21,31K

Abrdn 155,30 155,75 153,55 371,25K

Admiral Group 2.013,0 2.013,0 1.970,5 37,99K

Anglo American 2.715,5 2.730,0 2.674,0 312,88K

Antofagasta 1.218,50 1.230,50 1.203,50 169,14K

Ashtead Group 4.516,0 4.560,0 4.429,0 92,48K

Associated British Foods 1.371,5 1.374,0 1.360,0 79,90K

AstraZeneca 10.010,0 10.097,6 9.984,0 10,57K

Auto Trader Group Plc 528,60 528,60 515,40 151,82K

Aveva 3.143,0 3.147,0 3.128,0 31,08K

Aviva 416,10 416,80 412,70 493,83K

B&M European Value Retail SA328,10 328,10 321,70 191,89K

BAE Systems 807,41 818,60 807,20 294,52K

Barclays 150,20 151,30 148,94 3,83M

Barratt Developments 382,20 382,40 373,80 352,18K

Berkeley 3.593,0 3.591,0 3.526,0 18,09K

BHP Group Ltd 2.174,50 2.202,50 2.172,00 267,45K

BP 473,70 478,80 466,45 7,90M

British American Tobacco 3.442,5 3.456,0 3.417,5 205,61K

British Land Company 370,00 370,00 361,80 345,50K

BT Group 126,50 127,10 125,95 843,24K

Bunzl 2.851,0 2.850,0 2.815,0 33,84K

Burberry Group 1.885,2 1.884,0 1.866,5 44,56K

Carnival 674,7 676,4 664,0 204,09K

Centrica 70,00 70,16 69,46 446,32K

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.903,0 1.907,0 1.875,0 61,88K

Compass 1.844,00 1.847,00 1.830,50 140,37K

CRH 3.075,5 3.080,5 3.049,5 40,63K

Croda Intl 6.932,0 6.954,0 6.866,0 15,91K

DCC 4.937,0 4.944,0 4.889,0 18,09K

Diageo 3.588,5 3.603,5 3.557,0 200,33K

DS Smith 294,81 295,70 291,80 684,61K

EasyJet 340,95 341,30 331,00 460,09K

Experian 2.797,0 2.800,0 2.766,0 102,87K

Ferguson 9.562,0 9.668,0 9.514,0 62,73K

Flutter Entertainment 11.580,0 11.605,0 11.325,0 16,42K

Fresnillo 748,00 749,40 736,00 46,35K

Glencore 510,50 515,60 508,70 3,81M

GSK plc 1.394,39 1.398,00 1.388,00 291,86K

Halma 2.189,0 2.197,0 2.168,0 82,86K

Hargreaves Lansdown 774,00 780,60 772,00 23,43K

Hikma Pharma 1.256,50 1.256,50 1.244,00 38,90K

HSBC 447,75 448,65 442,50 3,68M

IAG 119,93

116,98 1,68M

Intermediate Capital 1.071,00 1.071,50 1.043,50 75,90K

Intertek 3.843,0 3.846,0 3.756,0 29,42K

ITV 69,06 69,12 67,62 885,17K

J Sainsbury 195,65 195,80 191,80 468,03K

Johnson Matthey 2.038,0 2.043,0 2.016,0 37,21K

Land Securities 580,60 580,60 564,40 230,06K

Legal & General 233,70 233,80 231,20 1,44M

Lloyds Banking 41,91 42,32 40,87 43,09M

London Stock Exchange 7.524,0 7.536,0 7.473,0 2,75K

Melrose Industries 112,65 112,85 111,10 1,02M

Mondi 1.515,00 1.522,50 1.507,00 64,36K

National Grid 934,80 936,12 925,40 36,26K

NatWest Group 243,60 244,50 240,00 1,10M

Next 5.150,0 5.156,0 5.062,0 26,66K

Norilskiy Nikel ADR 9,10 9,10 9,10 0

Ocado 503,40 506,00 495,20 181,27K

Persimmon 1.329,0 1.331,0 1.297,5 148,82K

Phoenix 550,00 550,40 544,80 257,72K

Prudential 822,60 822,60 807,60 389,70K

Reckitt Benckiser 5.610,0 5.702,0 5.597,5 13,38K

Relx 2.332,00 2.334,00 2.307,00 223,00K

Rentokil 542,00 543,60 535,40 802,72K

Rightmove 507,00 507,00 500,60 203,53K

Rio Tinto PLC 4.722,5 4.785,0 4.709,5 361,68K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 75,17 75,23 73,88 3,44M

Rosneft DRC 0,20 0,20 0,20 0

Sage 739,60 741,80 735,40 111,92K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.041,50 1.043,50 1.034,00 4,23K

Schroders 398,3 398,9 394,6 81,28K

Scottish Mortgage 748,30 750,00 740,60 177,83K

Segro 808,20 809,80 784,40 438,23K

Severn Trent 2.466,0 2.466,0 2.437,0 21,36K

Shell 2.370,0 2.401,0 2.293,5 428,61K

Smith & Nephew 1.019,50 1.021,00 1.012,00 101,91K

Smiths Group 1.554,00 1.560,00 1.547,50 85,72K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.115,0 11.130,0 10.890,0 12,11K

SSE 1.523,59 1.529,00 1.510,00 133,56K

St. James’s Place 1.070,50 1.073,00 1.053,50 136,03K

Standard Chartered 534,20 535,20 523,40 748,68K

Taylor Wimpey 97,16 97,41 95,22 578,31K

Tesco 214,80 214,80 211,00 1,17M

Tui 130,35 131,30 129,40 389,15K

Unilever 3.868,5 3.908,0 3.849,0 464,88K

United Utilities 931,80 931,80 918,60 133,47K

Vodafone Group PLC 98,97 99,57 98,43 7,48M Whitbread 2.605,0 2.613,0 2.567,0 54,59K WPP 755,60 760,60 750,00 408,72K

DOW

3M 122,70 123,29 4,62M

American Express 146,88 149,50 146,47 3,36M

Amgen 266,66 267,98 261,51 3,00M

Apple 149,35 151,99 148,04 87,53M

Boeing 133,79 150,14 132,21 29,31M

Caterpillar 196,96 199,58 194,57 3,54M

Chevron 177,09 178,48 175,17 6,85M

Cisco 44,38 45,23 44,28 20,04M

Coca-Cola 59,39 59,78 58,86 15,81M

Dow 47,99 48,55 47,89 6,02M

Goldman Sachs 335,69 338,67 334,14 2,17M

Home Depot 290,15 291,87 286,17 2,61M

Honeywell 190,27 192,95 189,76 4,20M

IBM 135,01 135,86 132,81 5,10M

Intel 27,21 27,80 26,99 36,93M

J&J 172,21 172,57 170,52 6,11M

JPMorgan 124,11 125,20 122,88 10,74M

McDonald’s 256,61 260,69 256,12 3,58M

Merck&Co 98,41 99,28 98,00 10,37M

Microsoft 231,32 238,30 230,06 82,20M

Nike 92,39 94,35 90,70 8,54M

Procter&Gamble 131,78 132,57 130,40 6,60M

Salesforce Inc 159,91 164,12 158,70 6,54M

The Travelers 176,40 177,24 174,10 1,93M

UnitedHealth 543,17 547,64 540,21 2,70M

Verizon 36,43 36,71 36,20 20,24M

Visa A 203,33 206,37 196,50 15,45M

Walgreens Boots 35,51 36,13 35,44 5,66M

Walmart 141,14 142,04 139,82 6,91M

Walt Disney 104,63 107,43 103,53 9,15M

Most Advanced

ESSA Pharma +180.23% 115.17M

SVF Investment +47.95% 48.71K

Natural Order Acquisition +46.00% 65.53K

Oneconnect Fin +45.78% 5.72M

RLX Technology +42.98% 68.24M

Cipher Mining +42.56% 2.50M

Epiphany Technology Acquisition +39.64% 46.13K

Loyalty Ventures +39.60% 4.39M

Eqonex +38.24% 2.87M

Mobileye Global +37.95% 27.97M

Freight Tech +37.44% 11.94M

Most Declined

Golden Falcon Acquisition -53.57% 74.86K

Thermogenesis Holdings -49.56% 14.71M

Fednat Holding Co -30.98% 7.26M

Stride -29.35% 4.42M

Taysha Gene -27.52% 8.64M

Y mAbs Therapeutics -27.42% 2.10M

Sierra Metals Inc. -27.42% 1.76M

Meiwu Technology -22.27% 914.38K

Healthcare Triangle -21.50% 1.44M

Revelation Biosciences -21.41% 4.42M

Starry Holdings -19.64% 3.37M

Currency outlook: Pound rocked by UK fiscal and political turmoil, Euro undermined amid escalating Ukraine conflict

Euro

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.89 to £0.86 EUR/USD: Up from $0.96 to $0.98

The euro has struggled to attract support over the past month amid renewed concerns over the conflict in Ukraine.

Given the pressure the war has already placed on the Eurozone economy, EUR in vestors were unsurprisingly spooked by the ap parent escalation of the conflict in recent weeks.

Also weighing on EUR sentiment were fresh concerns over European energy security, follow ing an apparent attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

However, helping to temper the euro’s losses has been the expectation that the European Central Bank (ECB) will deliver another aggres sive interest rate hike at the end of October.

Looking ahead, the immediate focus for EUR investors will be the ECB’s upcoming interest rate decision. With a 75bps hike largely priced in, any movement in the euro is likely to be tied to the bank’s forward guidance. Signals the bank will continue to raise rates aggressively could bolster the single currency.

Pound GBP/EUR: Up from €1.11 to €1.14

GBP/USD: Up from $1.08 to $1.13

It’s been an eventful few weeks for the pound, which traded with extreme volatility since the unveiling of the government’s much criticised mini-budget.

The initial fallout of the budget saw GBP/USD strike a new record low, with a full-blown Ster ling crisis only being narrowly avoided following a timely bond market intervention from the Bank of England (BoE).

A series of U-turns regarding the budget in fused further volatility into GBP exchange rates through the first part of October. As the govern ment sought to calm market jitters.

The sacking of Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and the scrapping of almost the entire budget by his successor Jeremy Hunt, offered some respite for the pound. Before Liz Truss’s resigna tion as PM injected fresh volatility into the cur rency.

The coming month is likely to see trade in the pound remain highly erratic. Political uncertainty remains a key risk to Sterling, while an oversized interest rate hike from the BoE could also infuse volatility into GBP exchange rates.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from $0.87 to $0.88 USD/EUR: Down from €10.3 to €1.01

UK Budget postponed

In work

THE number of people em ployed in Spain increased by more than 514,00 during the last year and by 77,700 in the third quarter, which allowed employment to reach 20,545,700 workers, the highest since 2008.

Keep calm

WORRIES about how to pay for essentials, let alone luxu ries in the UK has, according to ITV and the Retail Trust, led to reports of a rise in abuse by the public on shop workers with some 70 per cent of employees saying things were getting worse.

Expansion

THANKS to booming turnover and profits, Span ish energy company Repsol continues to expand and has just announced it has ac quired a 27 per cent stake in the waste management company Acteco.

NO scary UK Halloween budget as it is postponed until November according to a release from Downing Street on Wednesday October 26.

Clearly new PM Rishi Sunak who has decided to continue to support Jeremy Hunt as Chancel lor won’t fall into the trap of a hurried budget, but wants to en sure that he will have input into the plans.

Having spent so long as Chan cellor himself and having stood against Liz Truss as the tax pru dent face of the Conservative Par ty, he will want some input espe cially as Jeremy Hunt has no background in finance, but is gen erally thought to be in favour of orthodox Treasury thinking, look ing to balance budgets and follow fiscal discipline.

Following confirmation that he would remain Chancellor, Hunt tweeted “It is going to be tough. But protecting the vulnerable ‐and people’s jobs, mortgages and bills ‐ will be at the front of our minds as we work to restore sta bility, confidence and long‐term growth.”

The decision to postpone the

autumn statement until Novem ber 17 was announced at the first full Cabinet meeting with the Chancellor sitting next to the Prime Minister, where it was also confirmed that there would be a new set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Re sponsibility.

Whilst this decision gives the government breathing space to

tweak the plans, which may in clude a review of stamp duty cuts as well as affordability of the triple lock pensions, it has put the Bank of England in a slightly diffi cult position.

Their next interest rate review is due today, Thursday Novem ber 3 and will have to be decided without the benefit of knowing all of the government’s plans.

The US dollar continued to draw support over the past four weeks, as skittish investors continued to favour the safe-haven currency.

This souring mood was attributed to the UK’s fiscal chaos, ongoing global recession fears and concerns over the war in Ukraine.

Federal Reserve interest rate hike bets also continued to underpin demand for the US dollar in recent weeks. USD investors expect the Fed to continue raising rates aggressively through the end of 2022.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the ‘greenback’, with some underwhelming US data releases weighing on USD exchange rates at certain points throughout the month.

Going forward, the US dollar is likely to re main well supported as global recession fears continue to dictate market sentiment, with the prospect of another 75bps rate hike from the Fed also likely to underpin USD exchange rates.

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.

Back to Africa

Accompanied by Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto and a delegation of business men, this was a two‐nation whistle stop tour to promote friendship and the interests of Spanish companies.

On Wednesday October 26, the Spanish delegation met with Kenyan President William Ruto and expressed their joint support, signing several memorandums of un derstanding.

Then off to a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa as the following day they were in South Africa, an impor tant market for Spanish companies as 150 have invested in that country and bilateral trade between South Africa and Spain has almost quadrupled in the past 10 years.

Coping with prices

SPEAKING at a conference run by Spanish supermar ket chain Consum, Bernardo Rodilla, retail business di rector at Kantar which specialises in data analysis said that just over two thirds of Spanish households are ac tively trying to save money due to the cost‐of‐living crisis.

With prices on average increasing by 12.7 per cent so far this year, Rodilla indicated that in the grocery world, companies are trying to make foodstuffs as af fordable as possible and the cost of around half of all basic necessities has only risen by around 8 per cent.

Another way in which Spaniards are approaching the problem is to try to ensure that less food is wasted thus reducing their spend.

PRESIDENT Pedro Sánchez visited Kenya and South Africa as he continued to attempt to align Spain with countries across the continent.

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt at the first Cabinet meeting.

Credit: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street flickr

SINGLE CURRENCY: Could be bolstered by continuing to raise rates aggressively.

BY the time you read this British poli tics will probably have completed half dozen new triple somersaults.

Re selecting Boris, whose ambi tions were quashed by the Covid pan demic, would of course have been one of the best decisions the Conser vatives ever made. Gleefully support ed by the BBC, they actually managed to rid themselves of the biggest dan ger the Labour party would have had to contend with in the next election.

Have no doubt; this antigovern ment media rhetoric is all a part of the left wing hierarchy plot to achieve victory. Their incensed bias reporting has become relentless. Sub jects and situations they can plausibly blame on the government, are filling their analyses to such an extent, that any news item capable of possibly raising optimism among the British public, is relegated to the bottom of a barrel of leftie gluttony, that can only be scraped up after all its contents of doom and gloom are totally dished out.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe the whole system is in complete chaos.

No vote from me

Frankly I wouldn’t vote for any of them. As an almost lifelong follower of spiritualism, I have always be lieved that the whole misinformed process of guiding and cultivating the inhabitants of our planet is wrong. I believe we are still in the dark ages of human evolution; the solu tions of which will probably, assum ing we last that long, not be accom plished for at least another thousand years.

British TV has of course, just about hit rock bottom. Recently I watched repeats of ‘The Kenny Everett Show’, ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ and a number of others. These brilliant presenta tions, showed just how low the pre sent offerings have now sunk. All that you see for your licence fee these days are a multitude of quiz pro grammes, cooking twaddle, garden ing manure, housing purchases and utterly racially influenced vote seek ing adverts, screening mixed mar riages living in luxurious homes.

Almost unbelievably last week the long running series ‘Loose Women’ was substituted by ‘Loose Men,’ actu ally presented by four men!

Just how much longer are we going to put up with all this objectionable twaddle, which continually insults and demeans the majority of UK citi zens that are allowing themselves to be lured into surrendering their much loved country to the left wing hierar chy by a bunch of shadowy traitorous individuals, fully aware the majority of the British public are right wing supporters?

This power mad squad are utterly mindful that the only possible way to reverse the destruction the Conserva tive party inflicted in 2019 was to get shot of Boris and subsequently turn the country into a mixed culture soci ety they can inveigle into voting for the left.

Keep the faith. Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com. Expatradioscotland.com. Mon. Wed. Fri.

A woman’s beauty

story.

DISCOVERING EMOTIONS WITH

INNER beauty is the most beautiful and sensitive part of us, however negative experiences for women can cause the belief “I am not good enough”. These feelings of unworthiness can some times lead to toxicity in relationships with men.

My advice is be natural. True love is within you, and this is what will attract a man. Live a true life for a true love

A man doesn’t look for a sexy princess.

A man looks for a partner for life, where he will feel loved, respected and safe.

Self‐confidence is a blessing to heal the emotional field.

Love Betina www.mindovers.com 0034‐699 327 363

BE NATURAL: True love is within you.

BETINA VON HOHENDORFF

Well groomed

A GOOD skin care routine is not exclusive to women, men need one too. Only cleansing and moisturising is not enough to keep male skin healthy and clean.

Men tend to have oilier and thicker skin, so it’s ad visable to choose a good fa cial cleanser that works on all kinds of skin.

Cleansing sanitises and eliminates dead skin cells without drying. It also helps

ances and tightens.

Moisturising prevents cracks and dry and dull skin, and sunscreen is a must, with a minimum SPF of 30.

Exfoliation is crucial to eliminate dead skin cells from accumulating and causing bacterial infection. Used once a week, a gentle but granulated face scrub will smoothen skin, eradi cate dullness and soften hair folli

cles for a smoother shave

The skin around the eyes lacks in sweat and oil glands, making it highly sus ceptible to under‐eye dehy dration. This shows itself as fine lines and wrinkles. Dab bing a little hydrating eye cream each morning and before bed can help prevent this.

A good lip balm with a high SPF is a must to help keep them soft, sup ple and protected from the sun.

Clean beards are more likely to be soft beards.

Beauty experts ad vise using face wash or shampoo when cleans ing facial hair, taking care not to over sham poo as this can strip the hair of natural oils. Try ap plying beard oil with fragrance after washing.

CLEAN BEARDS: Apply beard oil with fragrance after washing.

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com

Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

PLEASE COVER UP

CAN somebody in authori ty in Mallorca explain to me why it is legal for Ger mans to strip naked on beaches in front of chil dren! Surely indecent ex posure is a crime !

Mallorca has nudist beaches all over the island. This obscene practice is to tally outrageous. Spain is beating the drum for peo ple to dress ‘appropriately’ ie no bikinis whilst walking around certain areas, yet these people stand there naked and I mean MEN AND WOMAN!

I have owned property on the island for 40 years and have watched this practice increase every single year.

Is indecent exposure in Mallorca a crime ? If not, WHY NOT?

Susan Farrell Hannah

Do the sums

His maths are as accu rate as Johnson, his 102 was actually 60 and Leapy Lee claims thousands of our soldiers were killed in Iraq, 179 British service personnel died, but that gets in the way of his rant.

Garry Turner

Just saying

I totally agree with the comments made in your article Complete chaos. I find your views honestly refreshing. You are not scared to say what most of us are thinking. Maybe if politicians adopted your policy of saying it

how it is, and not worry ing about political cor rectness, the UK would be in a far better national

and global position. Keep up the good work.

Bill Johnstone

OUR VIEW

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

WORKERS in Spain enjoy 12 National Holidays, plus some extras depending on which Province, City, Town or Pueblo they live in.

Of the National Holidays, eight are religious holidays based on Catholicism, which in today’s multi-cultural society may seem to be somewhat outdated.

Most European countries celebrate Easter and Christmas, but for Spain to add the Three Kings, As sumption of Mary, All Saints’ Day, and the Immacu late Conception may appear to be somewhat unbal anced in what is heading towards being a secular society.

No-one (except perhaps some employers) wants to reduce the number of days people can take off, but in a modern industrial country to then have additional days off for local Saints and to practise the concept of puente (bridge) to make an extra-long weekend can’t be beneficial to the economy.

The Spanish love to party and of course there is nothing wrong with that and they have now adopted Halloween, so at least they can recover on All Saints’ Day!

This leads us to Christmas and in this time of everincreasing costs as well as potential electricity shortages, one must consider whether councils should put up their Christmas lights and if they do whether they should only keep them on for a limited number of hours each night.

Families are finding it difficult to cope, yet many children now expect a Christmas present as well as one on Three Kings night and will be disappointed if they don’t receive both.

This year, as in the past, many charities and con cerned individuals will be collecting toys for those chil dren whose parents genuinely can’t afford them, so please help if you can.

Country House for

EXCLUSIVE to Next House Alme ria, amazingly reformed Country House with private pool, out buidings and sensational views on the outskirts of Velez‐Blanco in the sunny Almeria region.

We are delighted to present this stunningly reformed cortijo of 415m2 in size with garage, a workshop, storage and a large swimming pool of 10x5 and amazing views over the moun tains, just eight minutes by car from the village with all neces sary amenities for your daily life.

Arriving at the property, you are met with big iron gates which open up onto a private driveway, garage on the right hand side for parking two cars. There is a large concrete patio area, planted with some mature olive trees, on the right is a large storage room at tached to the house. To the right you will see the entrance to the property with a large porch area, ideal for sitting outside and en

joying al fresco and the views.

Upon entering the house you are greeted by an entrance hall way, further on is a spacious and bright lounge area with tradition al large fireplace and rustic fea tures throughout. In front is a hall that gives access to two dou ble bedrooms to the right with downstairs family bathroom

in Velez-Blanco

and mountains. From the terrace is access to the back garden and pool area, which has been beau tifully done with BBQ and bar area, all the sunbathing area is tiled around the pool, and sur rounded by stunning views ev erywhere. Also there is a toilet next to the bar, and a chill out area. All of the pool area has been nicely lighted, ideal to en joy during the evenings.

large gas boiler has been in stalled, the pool pump and lights have been recently replaced, and the land is fully fenced. The land is planted with 70 olive trees and some fruit trees such as orange, pomegranate, apple, fig, man darine and white and red grapes.

with a fantastic corner bath and straight on the left hand side is a fully fitted kitchen with pantry.

Back to the hall at the end is a door leading to a large dining room with another large Spanish chimney and fitted kitchen, from here is access to an enormous covered and fly free terrace with breathtaking views of the valley

Big, splashy weddings

JOHNSON

VIEWS

THE average cost of a British wedding last year was £17,500, according to wedding website Hitched, while the average house price was around £300,000 this April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Post‐lockdown, ev eryone deserves a party but if, with the cost‐of‐living crunch, it’s now a choice between a big wedding or house de posit, I know what I’d choose.

Expensive weddings are a rip off. The bride and groom are a sales person’s dream and the more add‐ons they can sell you the better their bonus. Who needs bits and pieces on the tables and fancy chairs. None of that will make you

happier or the day more memorable. Unless you can easily afford the ex pense, keep it small and simple and make sure it’s relaxed and fun.

Anybody who considers a big, splashy party to be more important than a roof over your head is bad news. A wedding day only lasts 24 hours. A marriage can last a lifetime (though frequently doesn’t). It makes far more sense to spend potentially limited funds on property as the length of marriage is invariably inversely proportional to the amount spent on the wedding itself. Sim ples!

Nora Johnson’s criti cally acclaimed psy chological crime thrillers (www.nora‐johnson.net) all avail able online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audio books, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Back inside the house from the lounge, stairs goes up to the sec ond floor where you have on the left hand side a double bedroom, and on the right hand side a full apartment with lounge/dining area, fitted kitchen, a large dou ble bedroom and a bathroom with shower. From the lounge is access to a terrace again with im pressive views of the mountains and the surroundings.

The upstairs has electric radia tors, all windows have shutters, fly screens and blinds. A new and

The reformation of this proper ty has been done carefully, main taining the original features throughout. The traditional beams are present in every room, there is a lot of light throughout and this property is extremely spacious.

If your dream is to have your own piece of heaven in the Span ish countryside, but close to all amenities, in a peaceful area with breathtaking views, then this is the right property for you!!!

Do not hesitate to book in to see this fantastic reformed house, it could be your Next House in Almeria!!!

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

TONY NOBLE

AUTUMN, a time when we traditionally celebrate and give thanks to God for a successful and abundant harvest. Sadly, millions will not because they have nothing to celebrate. They suffer famine, drought, floods, they have nothing to look for ward to. God created the world and mankind as its stewards and guardians, look what a mess we have made of it.

I wonder what He thinks when he looks down on us as we rape the land in the name of progress. Our relation ship to the earth should be God‐cen tred rather than self centred. When He created it, God’s desire was that we protect life in all its forms so that it could flourish and grow, so that gener ation after generation can enjoy what He has provided.

Humanity’s desire for more and more means less for millions of others. Poverty is rife around the world and over recent months this has been evi dent in the world. Jesus had a lot to

say about wealth and poverty. He was not against the wealthy, only in the way that wealth is distributed.

As I get older I can see the gap be tween the rich and poor getting wider and wider, unless something is done very soon then all hope will be gone for many millions. Jesus was all about equality, if you had a lot then why not help those who have little.

In Matthew 6 Jesus says “So when you give to the needy, do not an nounce it with trumpets, as the hyp ocrites do in the synagogues and tell on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell in truth, they have received their reward in full. When you give to the needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that giving may be in secret.”

If we all start to live by these princi ples then perhaps the world can start to repair itself. Amen

Warm regards and blessings, Tony.

To read more articles from our columnists and to have your say in the comments go to

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological

Nora’s latest thriller.

Private health insurance alternative CONSULAR MATTERS

AT my law firm I act for a number of clients seeking residency here in Spain, usually when they are buying a property in Spain. To have residency you need a visa if you are not an EU citizen. Usually this is the non lu crative visa sometimes abbreviated to the NLV. To obtain any visa or residency as an EU citizen in Spain you also need private health insurance.

If you been a resident in Spain for more than one year you may be entitled to apply for ‘Convenio Especial’ which translates as special agreement, it is an agreement that you can have with the Spanish health sys tem if you are already legally resident in Spain, and you are not covered by the health system of your own country. (Eg if you are a UK pensioner you may be covered under the S1 agreement). You can pay the Spanish health system a fee and be covered by the health system here.

This applies to anyone in the world, and it allows them to have access to the health system with almost the same service as a Spanish citizen in your particular region, pre

vention, diagnosis, treatment, physiothera py and emergency transfers are covered. You have to pay for your prescriptions in full at the chemists, orthopaedics and prosthet ics and non‐emergency transport. If you visit another region on a temporary basis, you are also covered.

What are the requirements? You need to be a legal resident for a year before making the application, to be registered on the padron in your town hall in the same region and to not have any other public health cov erage. So if you are not resident here in Spain you will need to have private health care insurance for at least the first year of your residency.

The cost of the health ‘Convenio Especial’ is around €60 a month for people aged un der 65 and €157 a month for people aged over 65 (2022 prices). Of course, check your private health insurance as it may be cheap er. Always take advice from a Spanish lawyer like myself and always get their bar registration number.

For more from our columnists please scan this

Code

GO LOCAL

WHEN YOU GO SHOPPINGGO LOCAL!

BUY LOCAL: By shopping locally, independent businesses can help support the local community.

Marisa Moreno Castillo senior lawyer at Just Law Solicitors and Consul for Denmark. www.justlawsolicitors.com contact@justlawsolicitors.com - Malaga - Fuengirola - Marbella & online.

Exploring outdoors

CAMPING with children can be so much fun if it is done right. Living in a very small space for any amount of time can be demanding, let alone keeping track of little ex plorers outdoors. So, bear these tips in mind when planning your next adventure.

Don’t rough it

Car camping and vans are the best way to go, offering more comfort. If you’re going to use a tent, go to a campsite with parking and good amenities like bathrooms and kitchens.

Plan ahead

Campsites can fill up quickly, so it’s best to book in advance to avoid disappointment!

Do pack for all weath ers

Saying this, it’s best to pack for all weather, it can get chilly at night

even on hot summer days! Pack really lightweight waterproof jackets that can fold up small, an extra layer for the evenings and socks are always a good idea.

Set up when it’s still light

It’s best to unpack and set up while it’s still light. That way, you can get

the children involved in the chores and tasks such as gathering kindling and setting up the sleeping bags.

Don’t unpack electrical devices

Stash your smart phones and tablets in the car for emergencies, take this time to switch off, enjoy nature and relax.

Why a campsite in Spain?

SPAIN continues to be one of the best destinations that has a good relationship with Eu rope. With beautiful beaches, numerous activities, good food, culture and incredible nature, Spain is a great holi day destination. Statistically, Spain is the sunniest country in Europe.

The Mediterranean coastal towns enjoy on average, 300 days of sun a year. With more than 8,000 kilometres of coast and 577 beaches, Spain offers

golden beaches complete with dolphin spotting and promenades. The Mediter ranean Sea has many activi ties on offer, like sailing, snorkelling, kayaking and swimming. Spain offers a rare combination of spectacular mountains and beaches in close proximity. You can enjoy high pastures and then drive for 30 minutes or less to gor geous sandy coastlines.

There are many beachside campsites in Spain, offering

additional facilities such as, pools and Jacuzzis, Wifi, restaurants and even onsite entertainment. As well as beachside spots to pitch your tent, Spain also boasts camp ing havens nestled between captivating, cascading moun tains. If a chalet seems more your speed than a tent, but you still have a burning desire to immerse yourself in the Spanish countryside, consider sites offering wooden bunga lows or glamping facilities.

Camping veggie style

TO camp or travel in a campervan can be incredibly freeing and full of infinite op portunities. It’s also lovely to reconnect with nature, and what better place to adopt a more plant‐based diet than when surrounded by lush green trees or beautiful gold en beaches.

Start your day with easy pancakes to make a nice

change from the same old boring cereal. Mix a mashed ripe banana with two eggs and fry on an oiled pan on a camping stove, flip then serve with fresh berries or jam.

For lunch pumpkin soup is an easy, flavourful option sure to keep you going until dinner time. Pumpkins are in season in autumn so ingredi

ents shouldn’t be difficult to source. You could even pre pare your soup in advance and take it with you on hikes in a flask to keep it warm.

A family favourite, jacket potatoes and a whole host of veg can be done on a BBQ, veggie hotdogs are always a crowd pleaser, simply by re placing the sausage for a car rot.

A LEOPARD gecko is one of the easiest reptiles to look after and make friendly and fascinating pets. They do not require a great deal of space and are happy living in a size ap propriate terrarium.

Entertaining pets

They do like a warm cli mate so you will require a heat lamp or pad on one side of their terrarium, and a thermometer to monitor the temperature. They al so require 12 hours of light a day therefore a low‐wattage UVA/UVB light source with a timer to mimic day and night schedules is needed.

You will need to put a substrate (reptile carpet) on the floor of the terrari um and have a hiding

place, climbing material and rocks in order for the terrarium to feel more like home.

Leopard geckos eat main ly mealworms and crickets, they do not eat very often maybe once a day and like to have their food dusted with calcium powder two to threetimes a week along with a reptile multivitamin once a week for younger geckos and twice a month

for adults.

Leopard geckos drink water from a large shallow dish and will also bathe in their dish to maintain hy dration. Be sure you emp ty, clean and refill their water dish every day.

Some interesting facts: they can live for as long as 20years and can grow to

10inches in length. They don’t have ‘sticky’ fingers and toes like other geckos and they are not able to climb or walk on other ver tical surfaces like many of their relatives. The leopard gecko is one of only a few gecko species that have distinct outer ears and eyelids.

LOTS OF FUN: Outdoor living for everyone.

Smile for the camera. Image: Shutterstock.com/DWI YULIANTO

CLASSIFIEDS

TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For wor ship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more con tact 617 914 156 (10021)

ALMERIA BUILDERS: Ful ly Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders. com (253556)

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

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and see how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Tele phone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are house bound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvisits@ gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serv ing, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medi cal issue, we help with sign posting if we cannot help di rectly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you

need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishlegion.org. uk/counties/spain-north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thurs day and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at Bar Trinidad, Arboleas, for further details please email zurgenarblchair man@gmail.com - (253989)

From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (301356)

VOSS HOMES are a profes sional, British family-run Es tate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and rent ing properties in the Huer cal-Overa, La Alfoquia, Zur gena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824)

MOTOR INSURANCE . For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 952 147 834, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your exist ing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 952 147 834 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com

CLASSES

FOR SALE

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

OTHERS

Male/Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all ar eas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

PETS

LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) church services at Mojacar Los Llanos Del Peral and Alhambra. Communion every Sunday in Mojacar at 11am. Communion at Los Llanos every Sunday except the last Sunday in the month when there will be Prayer and Praise all at 11am. The services that were being held in the South American church Al box have now returned to the chapel and Commu nion is held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am. Priest in charge Rev Canon Alan Bennet telephone number 680 243 436. For further infor mation, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or con tact Tony Noble 950 069 103. (10002)

MISCELLANEOUS

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs €7.75, medium dogs €8.50, big dogs €9.25, cats from €7.00 a day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotelturre@gmail. com fivebonehotel.com (296266)

ABBOTT ELECTRICS

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

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

PLUMBERS SOLAR ENERGY

KNOWLES PLUMBING

No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heat ing, solar hot water and water deposits. Call num ber telephone: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560 (296493)

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

SOLAR WIND POWER SO LUTIONS. Over 20 years in stallation experience. Estab lished 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.com (295779)

INSURANCE

FOR RENT WANTED

REMOVALS

ROAD TEST byMarkSlack

THERE was a time when driving a Korean car meant most drivers would look at you with either pity or the view that you don’t have much money or taste in cars. Move for ward and today Kias are trendy, cutting edge with hybrid and elec tric vehicles and a well‐deserved reputation for reliability and build quality.

The Kia look has evolved into one which is striking and head turning with many less informed drivers thinking they are far more expensive than is actually the case.

Kia’s range is a wide one with everything from a small city car in the Picanto through to a large SUV in the Sorento and the won derfully named Stinger that

Kia Sportage - head turning

looks like a futuristic GT car with added practicality.

In the latest Sportage Kia’s mid‐size SUV strikes a head turning pose and of fers a myriad of power op tions which encompass petrol, diesel, mild hybrid (even in diesel form) and plug‐in hybrid along with manual and automatic gears plus two and all‐

wheel‐drive.

Prices start from a mod est €32,343/£27,750 and in lead‐in form comes with LED lighting, front and rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers and more.

My mid‐range ‘3’ with manual gears and two‐wheel‐drive doesn’t benefit from hybrid power but does have an impressive ar

ray of standard equipment that includes heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, multi‐zone cli mate control, cruise control and neat lit tle touches like hooks on the back of the front seats. Priced at €37,239/£31,950 this version offers enough equipment to make you feel comforted, but at a price that doesn’t break the bank.

On the road the Sportage’s 1.6‐litre petrol engine offers useable per formance and mpg with a nicely slick six‐speed manu al gearbox. Soaking up the worst of the bumps the Sportage is never going to live up to its sport moniker,

but nonetheless it’s far from disappointing on cross country roads.

The car comes with auto hold, a useful feature that requires one press of the footbrake to hold the car stationary without apply ing the handbrake. Which is a good job as the hand brake is operated via a but ton on the right hand side of the dashboard. It’s the

one thing that feels awk ward and unnecessarily fussy.

The Kia is a delight to live with and very easy and un fussed to drive. It also turns heads as one of the more striking cars you’re likely to see on our roads, and wonderfully doesn’t conform to the norm where all cars tend to look the same.

Facts at a Glance

Model: Kia Sportage ‘3’ FWD Manual

Price: €37,239/£31,950

Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol developing 148 bhp

Gears: 6-Speed manual

Performance: 0-100 kmh (62 mph) 9.9 seconds/ Maximum Speed 182 kph (113 mph)

Economy: 6.8l/100km (41.5 mpg) Combined driving (WLTP)

Emissions: 154 g/km (WLTP)

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

KIA RANGE: With everything from a small city car to a large SUV.

Electric pocket rocket

THREE HUNDRED AND NINE

TY kilometres of stunning landscapes lie between Sevilla and Madrid, the perfect route for experiencing the leg endary go‐kart feeling in the all‐electric MINI Cooper SE.

On the route through the green mountain landscape, the MINI Electric can really strut its stuff. While down in the cities when the traffic al most comes to a standstill during rush hour, the MINI Cooper SE is simply a joy to drive as it corners smoothly,

hugging the rode also thanks to the lithium‐ion high‐volt age battery (32.6 kWh gross value) installed in the floor.

The brake system, which can be set in two stages, de celerates the car promoting strong energy recovery as soon as the driver takes his foot off the accelerator. This not only makes it easy on the brakes, but also charges the battery of the all‐electric MINI Cooper SE while you are driv ing.

This little beauty can go

from 0‐100km/h in 7.3 sec

onds with a top speed of 150km/h and an electric range of between 125‐275km depending on driving condi tions. The MINI Cooper SE can be charged with the flexible fast charging cable and with Spain having charging stations every 50 kilometres nation wide, no journey is too far.

The electric MINI Cooper SE almost silently glides along to your destination, making your journey sound and seem ef fortless.

Credit: Mini Cooper

EFFORTLESS: The electric MINI Cooper SE will silently glide along to your destination.

KAZUYOSHI MIURA has become the oldest goalscorer in the history of the Japan Football League, as reported on Sunday, October 30.

After Kazuyoshi Miura, nicknamed ‘King Kazu’ in Japan, converted a penalty for Suzuka PG, he became the JFL’s (Japan Football League) oldest goalscorer at 55 years and 246 days.

The 55‐year‐old striker scored his first goal for JFL Suzuka Point Getters (fourth division and semi‐professional level) from the penalty spot and helped the Mie side to a 3‐1 win over Tiamo Hirataka.

As noted by top sports journalist Dan Orlowitz, Miura’s record is “just a slight improvement over the previous record of 42 years and 50 days set by current Vissel

IRAN should be kicked out of the 2022 Qatar World Cup in sisted Shakhtar Donetsk’s general director, Serhiy Palkin.

Serhiy Palkin, the general director of Ukrainian football club FC Shakhtar Donetsk ad dressed FIFA and the football community on Thursday, Oc tober 27, suggesting that the national football team of Iran has no right to participate in

Oldest goalscorer

Kobe sporting director Hideki Nagai!”

Kazuyoshi Miura has also been part of the national team, being a regular player in the footballing boom experienced by the country in the 1990s and was the poster boy of the newly launched league in 1993. He also was part of the Japan squad that won the 1992 Asian Cup.

Miura started his career with Santos in Brazil in 1986 and has played for Genoa in Italy and Dinamo Zagreb. He also had stints in Croatia and Australia as well as at other Japanese sides.

Immediate ban

the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Due to terrorist attacks on Ukraine by Iranian drones, Iran’s place at the tourna ment ‐ which will start in less than one month’s time ‐should be taken by Ukraine, claimed Palkin, as reported by a national news outlet.

Rinat Akhmetova, the Ukrainian club’s manager, said that while the Iranian leadership will have fun watching their team play at the World Cup, Ukrainians will be killed by Iranian drones and Iranian missiles.

“Already, almost 250 such

drones have attacked peace ful cities of Ukraine. Each of them was made and deliv ered by the Iranian authori ties,” read the appeal to FIFA.

Palkin called on FIFA and the entire international com munity to seek an immediate ban on the participation of the Iranian national team in the World Cup for their direct participation in terrorist at tacks against Ukrainians.

Charges dropped

PSG star Neymar has been cleared of fraud and corruption charges over his high‐profile Barcelona transfer.

The charges against foot baller Neymar, aged 30, and eight others accused in a trial over the Brazilian’s 2013 move from Santos to Barcelona have been dropped by Spanish prosecu tors.

PSG star Neymar cleared of fraud and corruption charges over Barcelona transfer.

They initially sought a two‐year prison term for Neymar ‐who is currently preparing to head to the World Cup in Qatar with Brazil next month ‐ along with a fine of €10 million, a case brought by Brazilian investment firm DIS, which owned 40 per cent of the rights to Neymar when he was at Santos.

The firm claims that Neymar, Barcelona, and the Brazilian club colluded to mask the true cost of his transfer thereby defrauding it of its legitimate financial interests, reporte a na tional news site.

Barca said the transfer was valued at €57.1 million, of which €6.8 million was given to DIS, but Spanish prosecutors believe the actual value was at least €83 million. DIS is seek ing to recover €35 million.

Prosecutor Luis Garcia Canton declared that “there is not the slightest hint of crime” and asked for all defendants to be acquitted at the trial in Barcelona.

Credit: Aliza Studios/Shutterstock.com.

Suzuka

Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura aka ‘King Kazu’ breaks another record.