Costa Calida 9 – 15 November 2023 Issue 2001 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

Costa Calida • Issue No. 2001 • 9 - 15 November 2023

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ILMAINEN

GRATIS

VRIJ

CALIDA CHAOS

Catherine McGeer NOVEMBER 2 and 3 brought numerous incidents to the Re gion of Murcia due to strong winds that kept the entire re gion on high alert. The Valley of Guadalentin, Lorca, Aguilas, the Northwest, Campo de Cartagena, and Mazarron were under an or ange weather warning until midnight of November 2, while the latter region transi tioned to a yellow warning by 10pm. The Vega del Segura and Altiplano also shifted to a yellow warning. The Region of Murcia’s Emergency Coordination Cen tre, 112, reported a total of 233 calls, with 181 incidents at tributed to strong winds or coastal phenomena. Most of these incidents were related to road obstructions, fallen trees, and flying objects. The Mundo River source al so witnessed a spectacular sight as the powerful wind re versed the waterfall’s flow.

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Image: 112 and @MeteoHellin

NATURE’S FURY UNLEASHED: Windstorm wreaks havoc in Murcia.

While Murcia was the most affected municipality with 18 incidents, Yecla, Molina de Se gura, and Cehegin had four each. In Caravaca de la Cruz, the strong winds damaged the weather vane atop the Torre de los Pastores (bell tower of the Church of La Concepción). Other areas also felt the im pact of the strong winds with AlicanteElche Airport forced to redirect five flights from Va

lencia and Madrid. The powerful winds also dis rupted the plans of the luxury cruise ship Iona, known as one

of the world’s largest cruise lin ers, forcing the cancellation of its scheduled stop at the Port of Alicante.

GRATUITO

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LIVREE

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G GRATUIT

Wish granted FLORENTINA, like many oth ers, had a dream a simple wish to enjoy a leisurely day at the beach and enjoy a meal under the warm sun. For most, this might seem like an everyday plan, but for Florentina, who faces mobili ty challenges, it held pro found significance. Thanks to the Ambulancia del Deseo (Ambulance of the

Wish) foundation, Florenti na’s dream became a reality. In the beautiful setting of Santiago de la Ribera, she ex perienced a day she thought she might never have again: She had lunch with her dear friend Amparo by the beach. Florentina had her wish granted through the kind ness of the foundation and its dedicated volunteers.

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THE ADAPT Theatre Group has been captivating audiences for the past 13 years with its unique and multicultural ap proach to pantomimes. One of the most remarkable aspects of ADAPT’s productions is their

Christmas panto bilingual nature. These shows are skilfully performed in both English and Spanish.

Job boom TOURISM continues to be a major driver of economic growth in the Region of Murcia, as data released by Turespaña on Monday, November 6 reveals that tourism employment has reached 75,160 workers in the third quarter of 2023. This marks a remarkable 20.6 per cent increase com pared to the same period in 2022. This boost in employ ment has positioned the Region of Murcia as the second Spanish au tonomous community with the highest growth rate in the tourism sector. Tourismrelated activities added 180,604 jobs com

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pared to the previous year, accounting for 25.1 per cent of all new jobs created in Spain’s economy during that period. This highlights the importance of tourism to the nation’s job market. The international work force in the tourism sector also expanded, with 708,973 foreign employees in the third quarter of 2023, reflecting a 17.7 per cent increase. The continu ous growth in permanent employment is viewed as a milestone in the Spanish tourism industry, highlight ing the positive impact of policies that promote high quality, yearround tourism.

What truly sets ADAPT’s pantomimes apart are their special effects. These effects require extensive work and co ordination. From Mary Pop pins’ spectacular flight onto the stage to Buzz Lightyear’s liftoff on a drone. This year, ADAPT presents ‘Ali Baba and the 4 ½ Thieves’. Audiences can look forward to witnessing the magic carpet take flight and the cave door open as if by magic. Beyond their remarkable performances, ADAPT is also dedicated to making a positive impact on the community. Each year, they assemble school material boxes for chil

dren in need, collaborating closely with Las Esperanzas school in San Pedro. Young students from Las Esperanzas join the cast, practising dances and learning English sentences to make their appearances on stage truly special. The ADAPT Theatre Group invites you to experience the magic at The Casa De Cultura in San Pedro Del Pinatar, from November 30 to December 3. Tickets, priced at €4, are avail able at various locations. This year’s profits will support the AFEMAR charity in San Pedro, dedicated to helping people facing mental health chal lenges. Image: Adapt Theatre Group.

Join ADAPT for a magical bilingual journey.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

NIBS EXTRA Musical fun MURCIA prepares for a mag ical adventure with ‘La Gran Aventura de Elsa y Anna, the Musical’. Join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and more in a live musi cal at Espacio Nebrija Escéni co on December 9 at 4.30pm and 7pm, and in Cartagena on December 10 at 12 pm at Teatro Colegio Salesianos San Juan Bosco.

Happy Diwali MAX BEACH in San Pedro del Pinatar is excited to an nounce its Diwali Celebra tion on November 12, from 6pm until midnight. On this special evening, they won’t be serving their standard menu but instead will offer a delightful homecooked buffet for just €17.95.

Save Christmas ON December 9, the magical spirit of Christmas will envel op Cartagena as Santa Claus makes his grand entrance! Don’t miss ‘Save Christmas: The Musical’ at Auditorio Maristas. Secure your tickets now at entrebambalinasron da.com.

Rock Imperium THE legendary group Judas Priest will headline the third Rock Imperium Festival in Cartagena from June 19 to 22, 2024. Over 50 bands will grace the festival’s stages. Get your pass at www.rock imperiumfestival.es.

Solidarity Walk SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR is hosting the sixth ‘Marcha Solidaria’ (Solidarity Walk) on December 12, in collabo ration with the local branch of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC). The event aims to raise funds for cancer research.

9 - 15 November 2023

Cultural delights Catherine McGeer THE Municipal Library Net work has opened its doors to an exhibition that promises to captivate culture enthusi asts in Mazarron. This exhibi tion, divided into two parts, ‘Cerámica’ and ‘Enraizadas,’ will run until November 27 and is part of the activities surrounding the celebration of Library Day, a commemo ration initiated in 1992 in memory of the destroyed Na tional Library of Sarajevo dur ing the Balkan conflict. The first part, ‘Cerámica,’(ceramics) takes us on a journey through cul tural diversity via the art of ceramics. The exhibition fea tures pieces from various re gions of Spain and countries such as Italy, Bulgaria, Mexi co, Morocco, Costa Rica,

REMEMBRANCE DAY: A solemn occasion.

Exploring the beauty of ceramics and the heritage of Murcia through art.

Nicaragua, Guatemala, Pana ma, and Portugal. This colour ful exhibition invites us to dis cover the richness of cultures expressed through ceramics, an art form often overlooked. Simultaneously, the exhibi tion ‘Enraizadas,’(roots) a traveling exhibition from the Regional Library of Murcia,

THE annual celestial spectacle known as the Leonid meteor shower graces the night sky each year from November 6 to November 30. While it may not be as intense as the fa mous Perseids, the Leonids still offer a dis play of about 10 to 20 meteors per hour. These meteors are remnants of Comet 55P/TempelTuttle, discovered in 1865, which orbits the Sun every 33 years. When Earth crosses the debris field left by the comet, the meteors light up as they vapor ise upon entering our atmosphere. For ob servers in this region (40 degrees north lati tude), the radiant point, where the meteors OUTLET stores have increased in the market with staying power, exemplified by the success of Crazy Day Factory. This retail giant offers jaw dropping deals, such as TVs and tablets for as low as €20, drawing customers who queue for days to seize these incredible discounts. Crazy Day Factory has ex panded to four locations in Spain, including Parla, Leganés, Vallecas, and Sevilla, and a fifth store is set to open in Murcia. The key to their suc cess lies in buying thousands of daily returns from industry giants like Amazon and AliEx press, who struggle to process them due to their sheer vol ume. These items are then sold at prices that seem too good to be true. To maintain order amid the shopping frenzy, the store has established rules, such as lim

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Image: Finestrat Ayuntamiento / Facebook

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Image: mazarron.es

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highlights women and the natural heritage of the Mur cia region. Photographer Mayca Montero Gil showcas es images from different mu nicipalities in the region, ac companied by texts from notable authors such as Si mone de Beauvoir and Vir ginia Woolf.

Meteor shower appear to originate, is visible above the horizon from midnight to dawn. Peak activi ty is expected to occur on the night of November 17 to 18, four days after the new moon. To make the most of this astronomical event, venture away from light pollution, choose dark areas free of obstructions, and look towards the Leo constellation, away from the moon's glare, for the best Leonid meteor shower experience.

Crazy Day Factory iting the number of items per customer. and prohibiting the open ing of sealed boxes. There's no

defined organisation within the store, making it resemble a bustling bazaar rather than a traditional electronics outlet.

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Armistice Day ON November 11 every year, Armistice Day is commemo rated in memory of the end of the First World War. Also known as Remem brance Day, it is a solemn occa sion celebrated in many coun tries around the world to honour the historic signing of the armistice agreement be tween the Allies and their last remaining enemy, Germany. In the Commonwealth it is more commonly known as Re membrance Day, while in the United States, it is called Veter an’s Day. When was the armistice signed? It was officially signed by the Allied Supreme Commander, French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, at 5.45am on November 11, 1918, at Le Francport near Compiègne in northern France. The armistice came into force at 11am Central Euro pean Time (CET), on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It represented a commitment to cease fighting between both sides and brought an end to hostilities that had been going on since 1914 on land, sea, and air. How did WWI start? Increasing diplomatic ten sion between the European powers reached breaking point on June 28, 1914, when Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Aus troHungarian throne. As a result, AustriaHungary held Serbia responsible, and declared war on July 28 of the same year. Russia quickly came to the defence of Serbia which dragged Germany, France, and Britain into the conflict by August 4. In Novem ber that year, the Ottoman Empire also joined in. Honouring Veterans on Armistice Day

Armistice Day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacri fices made by countless indi viduals during the First World War and to all military person nel who have sacrificed their lives for their countries in sub sequent conflicts. The traditional British, Cana dian, South African, and AN ZAC commemoration is for a minute’s silence to be held on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. Observances typically in clude ceremonies at war memorials, military parades, and the laying of wreaths to honour the fallen. In Great Britain, the National Service of Remembrance is always held on the nearest Sunday to November 11 at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London. This year, it will take place on Sun day 12. Starting at 11am, the service will commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and wom en involved in the two world wars and later conflicts. Why are poppies recognised as a symbol of remembrance? Inspired by the famous war poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, writ ten by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, red poppies are often worn as a symbol of remem brance. After seeing poppies grow ing in the battlescarred fields of Ypres in Belgium, the Cana dian doctor composed the now famous poem in the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend. As described on the Royal British Legion’s website, red poppies are a show of support for the Armed Forces commu nity, those currently serving, and exserving personnel and their families. They also serve as a symbol of remembrance for all those who have fallen in conflict.

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TOMÁS OLIVO and Isabel Gar cía, prominent entrepreneurs in the Region of Murcia, have been recognised among the

Top money top 100 wealthiest individuals in Spain by Forbes.

Tomás Olivo stands out as the sixth richest person in Spain, due to his role as pro moter and major shareholder of General de Galerías Comer ciales (GGC), a major player in the Spanish shopping centre industry with a market capitali sation of €3.7 billion. Isabel García, the owner of Grupo Piñero, secured the 73rd spot on the list. Grupo Piñero has evolved into a significant hote lier in Spain and Latin America. The Forbes Spain ‘Top 100 Richest Spaniards’ list for 2023 continues to be dominated by wellknown figures, including Amancio Ortega, Rafael del Pino, Juan Carlos Escotet, and Juan Roig Alfonso.

Catherine McGeer ON October 1, a tragic fire in Atalayas claimed the lives of 13 people. The primary line of investigation, led by the Na tional Police, points to a cold pyrotechnic flare as the cause. The reports from the Mur cia Fire Department and Madrid’s Scientific Police ex perts are still pending, and their findings will be submit ted to the judicial authorities. While witnesses and fami ly members of the victims have been interviewed, no suspects or persons of inter est have been identified. It is not ruled out that in the com ing weeks, those potentially responsible may be sum

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Flare to blame Image: Bomberos Murcia

Uncovering the truth behind the tragedy.

moned for questioning, espe cially if the involvement of a cold pyrotechnic device is confirmed. These devices, often used at indoor events, emit mini

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

“Great Scott!” Famous quote from Back to the Future which was made in 1985. While it’s unclear exactly why director Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale went with ‘Great Scott!’ for Doc Brown’s trademark phrase, it was born out of a belief that the character should have one.

mal smoke and small sparks and are available online for various celebrations. Some families of the Ata layas fire victims, represent ed by attorney José Manuel Muñoz, have requested a separate investigation into potential civil liability and al leged misconduct by the Mu nicipality of Murcia. Accord ing to the families’ lawyer, there is evidence of the mu nicipality’s actions or inac tions that warrant an inquiry to determine whether they had any criminal implica tions.

Jan 1, 1985 First mobile call in UK made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.

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Catherine McGeer THOUSANDS of people from Mazarron took to the streets recently to participate in the March for Life, an event organised by the local chapter of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC). The march, which raised over €11,000, was a show of solidari ty and support for those affected by cancer. Participants gathered at the Plaza del Convento before setting off on a route that took them through the streets of the town. The event was attended by local digni taries, including Mayor Ginés Campillo and councillor for Social Policy María Isabel Car rillo. The March for Life was a significant event that reflected the unity and solidarity of the Mazarron community in the fight against cancer. Organisers and participants shared LADbible the British social media and entertainment company recently picked Murcia City as a top winter destination. The popular social media account known for its viral content recommended Murcia’s capital for a quick and easy getaway during the long winter months now that the clocks have gone back. The article titled ‘Garden of Europe’ where winter is 23 degrees and

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Mazarron March Image: mazarron.es

An inspiring event that showed the strength of the Mazarron community.

a message of hope and awareness about the importance of early detection and sup port for those who are battling the disease. The AECC Mazarron concluded its success ful ‘October Rose’ campaign with its tradi tional dinner on Saturday, November 5.

Murcia No. 1 pints cost €2 chose Murcia due to its warm climate, and cheap beer as well as its easy access for British travellers. Saying ‘Perhaps you might wish to learn about somewhere new that’s only a short flight

away that should still have some good weather?’ They went on to discuss great hiking, cycling, and kayaking locations around Murcia City which adds to the charm as well as the distance to the beaches of the Costa Cálida. The article was centred around Mur cia’s wonderfully warm and sunny climate with many comparisons to the horrid British weather and dark winter evenings.

FEATURE

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Working with the community since 1985 LAST week’s edition of Euro Weekly News was number 2,000 which was a major milestone in the history of the paper which was first published as The Entertainer on July 11 1985. Throughout this edition, we will be featuring several stories from 35 years ago just to give a taste of what was happening, some items tragic, some nostalgic, some important and some which are just amusing. We are known as the People’s Pa per and above all else, we are com mitted to communicate, educate and entertain our much respected readership and provide an outlet for our advertisers, old and new. Keeping in contact with the com munity across all of the areas where the newspaper is issued is really im portant and we issue the newspa pers 52 weeks in the year regardless of national holidays, economic downturns and of course the pan demic. How things have changed in 35 years and one of the most obvi ous has been the fact that many of the team now work remotely, something which really gathered momentum because of the lock down and the need to keep the pa pers running which of course also led to the extension of our website so you can read the papers online. This event can’t be allowed to pass without mentioning our longest serving team member Linda Hall Gonzalez who has been writing for

• Mary Casnello Look forward to every Thursday! • The Canary News Superb. Congratulations! An Epic Achievement! • Edward Timon Magnificent! No small task at all. Well done all round, really some thing to be very proud of.

Celebrating the 2000th edition.

the papers for more than 30 years and whose continued involvement we value greatly. To celebrate the 2,000th edition, those of us who work out of our Head Office sat together and toasted our achievement with an old fash ioned slice of celebratory cake be fore adjourning to a local Spanish restaurant where we enjoyed typical first class Spanish hospitality. We had one incredible surprise when unbeknown to the directors of the company, much valued advertis er José of Club del Sol tennis, padel and squash club created a brand new advert for his regular Costa del Sol front page piece which stated; Congratulations on your 2000th is sue of Euro Weekly News The success of our business is be cause we have been advertising with you for over 20 years, every week.

Navigating forward with Edition 2001 Dear Readers, As we unveil Edition 2001, we, Michel and Steven Euesden, publishers of Euro Weekly News, reflect on our remarkable journey and the essence of our mission, now encapsulated in this significant number. Over three decades ago, our mission was born: to help nonindigenous individuals seamlessly integrate into Spain’s diverse com munities. We aimed to bridge cultural and lin guistic gaps, a purpose that still guides us to day. At our core, we’re committed to raising aware ness for the needy and vulnerable within our com munity. We believe in the power of storytelling to illu minate hidden issues, amplifying the invaluable work of local charities, championing noble causes, and sharing narra tives of resilience. In a world often marred by negativity, we remain resolute as a beacon of hope. Amidst the chaos, we firmly believe there’s an abundance of hope, inspiration, and positivity. Euro Weekly News is your sanctuary,

where stories warm your heart, celebrate your community, and rediscover innate goodness. Our mission transcends information; it seeks to empower you. We equip you with insights to thrive in your chosen homeland, navigate Span ish culture, and participate actively in local communities. As we present Edition 2001, we are pro foundly grateful for your trust. Your reader ship drives our enduring commitment to ex cellence. Our resolve remains unwavering, our mission resolute, and our dedication to serving you, our cherished readers, stronger than ever. Thank you for being part of the Euro Weekly News family. Together, we will illuminate the path, offer hope, and celebrate the remarkable stories that en rich our community, our lives, and our world. With sincere thanks and a commitment to the future,

Michel and Steven Euesden Publishers Euroweekly News

• Joy Finnell King Congratulations !!!!!!!! • Linda Miller I love having my EWN through e mail. • Vivien Sutcliffe Euro Weekly Newspaper Thank you. For me the community spirit and information has been in spired. I retired to Southern Spain in 2001. Onwards and upwards Team EWN. • Jan Leaver Congratulations! x • Christine Climent Congratulations to you all, here’s to many more years EURO WEEK LY NEWS • Mary Kavanagh Kirby Love EWN. Feel something is miss ing if I don’t get my copy. It’s a mine of information. Long may it continue. Thanks. • IrishArtist Michael Thanks so much for sharing this! Yes, your weekly newspaper is a great resource for all of us on the coast and long may it continue! • Chris McGovern It’s a fabulous weekly paper, thank you so much. I’m amazed by the quality and information that is in it. • Lois Bennett Always pick up a copy & look on line • Stephen Tiley Congratulations loved reading it and still catch up online. Great pa per.

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Tourism drive

THE Region of Murcia ac tively promoted its tourism offerings and aimed to at tract more international visitors at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, a premier global tourism event which was held from November 6 to 8 in Lon don. Key attractions included ‘blue tourism,’ golf, and the upcoming ‘Año Jubilar de Caravaca de la Cruz

2024’, a significant pilgrim age and tourism event for the coming year. The Region of Murcia has witnessed substantial growth in international tourism, with a 15.4 per cent increase in foreign vis itors in the first three quar ters of 2023, bringing an economic impact of €936.6 million. The UK has been the leading source of inter national tourists, account

ing for 31.3 per cent. To sustain this momen tum and minimise season ality, the Region is plan ning various initiatives in the UK, including market ing campaigns, familiarisa tion trips, and participation in specialised fairs, bol stered by direct flights to the UK during the winter season from the Interna tional Airport of the Region of Murcia.

Eco-holidays

THE Regional Ministry of Tourism in Jumilla has unveiled a new 55kilometre ecotourism itinerary connecting the Greenway of Chicharra Yecla and the Greenway of Chicharra Cieza. This route offers an exciting adventure for hikers and cyclists, passing through scenic landscapes in the Murcia region. Beginning at the historic Yecla train station, the journey takes you through Jumilla and the Santa Ana Monastery, eventually linking to the Greenway of Chicharra Cieza and onwards to

Cieza. The paths are primarily rural, with minimal road traffic, making them suitable for both hikers and cyclists. This project not only promotes out door tourism but also forms a part of the ‘Camino de la Vera Cruz’ pilgrimage route, ex panding the region’s infrastructure for the 2024 Caravaca Jubilee Year. Key features of this development include route signage, rest areas with shade and bench es, and various surface and protective improve ments. The total investment is nearly €150,000.

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Catherine McGeer THE upcoming opening of the Rambla Shopping Cen tre on November 27 is ea gerly anticipated. It is being built on the premises of the former Eroski on Sebastián Feringán Avenue. Mercadona, owned by Valencian entrepreneur Juan Roig, is the first store to set up shop in what will be known as La Rambla Shopping Centre. This marks a significant development for the com mercial space, boasting 50,000 square metres, which hopes to attract vari

ous businesses in the future. The residential project also planned by businessman Tomás Olivo, located in the same area, is still awaiting a start date, despite having received its construction li cence. Currently, preparations are in full swing for Mer cadona’s 4,500squareme tre store, which will offer takeout options and an in store dining area. Following its opening, another Mer cadona store on Ramón y Cajal Street will close its doors due to proximity. The local authorities have yet to receive requests for opening licences from other businesses, but the promot er aims to diversify the of ferings with DIY, clothing, footwear, and accessories stores, and possibly even a gym. This development is expected to revitalise the shopping centre and attract more brands, ultimately contributing to the area’s growth.

Image: Cartagena Town Hall

Retail revival Exciting changes ahead at La Rambla Shopping Centre.

from Year 1985

Longest war ended SOME wars last longer than others but one of the longest wars in history was formally declared over on February 5, 1985. This was the Third Punic War which officially last ed 2,131 years although there wasn’t much fighting after 146BC as the forces of Rome finally defeated those of Carthage (now part of Tunisia) and the area became the Roman Province of Africa. The city was destroyed and for many years noone was allowed to rebuild or resettle but when the Em peror Augustus came to power, he was aware of a plan by Julius Caesar to rebuild Carthage and this was implemented, resulting in a new and prosper ous city. It was discovered much later however that the no peace treaty had ever been signed so, in 1985, Ugo Vetere, then the mayor of Rome, and Chedli Klibi, then the mayor of Carthage met in Tunis to sign a symbolic treaty of friendship officially ending the Third Punic War.

FINANCE Bargain price AURELIUS GROUP, which has offices in five European coun tries, is reportedly negotiating the purchase of the Body Shop from owners, the Brazilian com pany Natura & Co. If the deal goes through Aurelius would pay less than the £400 to £500 million (€459.9 to €574.6 mil lion) quoted in some media re ports, Reuters said.

Tower power VIRGIN MEDIA O2 (VMO2), the TelefonicaLiberty Global joint venture, is selling a 16.67 per cent minority holding in their mobile tower company, Cornerstone (CTIL), to GLIL Infrastructure. The telecoms company, which will re ceive approximately £360 million (€413 million), will maintain a 33.3 per cent stake in CTIL.

TSB stars THE TSB bank refunded 94 per cent of customers’ claims for au thorised push payment fraud last year, compared with Monzo’s 6 per cent, the Payments System Regulator revealed. Banks should return customers’ losses unless they suspect negligence, with stricter rules planned for next year to balance inconsisten cies in refund policies.

Taking a toll SPANISH infrastructure multina tional Ferrovial’s income in creased to €6.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, 12 per cent up on 2022. Its construction division grew by 8.5 per cent, but motorway concessions were responsible for the great est increase of 41.1 per cent, bringing a €700 million gross op erating profit.

Cost-cutting ONLINE derivatives trading plat form, IG Group, is planning hun dreds of redundancies as it reor ganises operations with a 10 per cent reduction in its global workforce, the company an nounced. By eliminating 300 jobs plus introducing additional measures, the company expects to make annual savings of £50 million (€57.5 million).

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STAT OF WEEK

€20 billion

in profits during 2023’s first nine months for Spanish banks whose shares are quoted on the Bolsa (Stock Exchange), 24 per cent more than during this period last year.

Off the Grey List GIBRALTAR is close to re moval from the Grey List. Countries on the Grey List are those which the Finan cial Action Task Force (FATF) considers fail to prevent ille gal activities that threaten the integrity of the interna tional financial system. T Raja Kumar, the FATF president, confirmed that Gibraltar had satisfied its ac tion plan and, subject to an onsite inspection, would be removed from the Grey List at FATF’s next Plenary ses sion in February 2024. An onsite inspection is the final step prior to removal from the list. The news would be widely welcomed by the

Photo credit: Nigel Feetham X

BUSINESS EXTRA

NIGEL FEETHAM: Gibraltar’s Justice, Trade and Industry minister in Paris.

community and was further evidence of the measures that Gibraltar has taken to meet FATF standards, gov ernment sources said. “Everyone in Gibraltar will be delighted by this news and warmly welcome this highly positive out

VODAFONE is bidding farewell to its Spanish subsidiary after more than a quarter of a century. The UKbased communications in vestment firm Zegona will pay €4.1 bil lion in cash assets for Vodafone España, together with up to €900 million in Zeg ona preference shares that will be re deemable within six years of finalising the deal. Zegona announced on October 31 that it had entered into ‘committed debt financing of €4.2 billion and a com mitted revolving credit facility of €0.5 bil lion and an equity placing of up to €600 million’. Eamonn O’Hare, Zegona’s Chairman

come,” commented Justice, Trade and Industry minister Nigel Feetham, as he ad dressed a FATF plenary meeting in Paris on October 27. “I wish to thank all of those authorities who have worked tirelessly in this pro

cess and continue to sup port us in our work to ad dress these action points and remove Gibraltar from the Grey List at the earliest possible opportunity,” the minister said. “We now look forward to welcoming the inspectors for the onsite visit in the coming months and the subsequent confirmation by FATF of Gibraltar’s re moval from the Grey List in February 2024. “We have totally com mitted to this process and look forward to continuing to engage with the FATF as we further develop our strategies in our fight against economic crime.”

Vodafone España takeover Photo credit: Flickr/Wei-Te Wong

VODAFONE: Spanish subsidiary sold to Zegona Communications.

and chief executive said the company was “very excited about the opportuni ty to return to the Spanish telecoms market.” O’Hare went on to explain that the

“financially attractive” acquisition of Vodafone was the company’s third deal in Spain after successful turnarounds at Telecable and Euskaltel. “With our clearly defined strategy and proven track record, we are confi dent that we can create significant value for shareholders,” he said. Financial daily Cinco Dias quoted in dustry insiders who said that Vodafone, which was formerly so successful, was eventually pushed aside following a se ries of bad decisions both by the parent company and its Spanish subsidiary.

Covid answers

Another upgrade Planned sale off

THE government is not obliged to compensate the hospitality industry for losses caused by the Covid restric tions. The Supreme Court reject ed appeals by thousands of bar, café and restaurant own ers after considering evidence from several of the compa nies involved and the lawyers who represent the State (Abo gacia del Estado). Although the Constitutional Tribunal declared that some aspects of the State of Alarm were unconstitutional, these sentences were no basis for claiming compensation from the State, said judge Carlos Lesmes who announced the Supreme Court’s conclusions.

NEXT expects fullyear profits of £885 million (€1.01 billion) after turnover rose by 4 per cent between July and late October. This is £10 million (€11.5 million) more than the company’s previous estimates and was also the fourth time in five months that the retailer, which now owns several high street brands, has up graded its forecast. A warm September discouraged sales of coats and knitwear, but compared with the same period in 2022 these in creased by more than 11 per cent from midOctober onwards once tempera tures began to fall. Next’s share price grew by more than 3 per cent on November 1 after the com pany announced that it foresaw fullyear sales increasing by 3.1 per cent to £4.7 bil lion (€5.4 billion) which was 2.6 per cent more than earlier calculations.

NUEVA PESCANOVA owner Abanca has dropped plans to sell the frozen seafood company. “We have put the process on hold,” the bank announced after negotiations to sell an 80 per cent stake to Canadian company Cooke fell through. Employees of the company, which is currently negotiating 76 redundancies, welcomed the sale which Nueva Pescanova also re garded as ideal. Friction arose after Cooke com missioned an exhaustive audit and cancelled the deal. Pescanova’s new chief executive Jorge Escudero said the project was so valuable that Abanca was in no hurry to divest itself of the compa ny and would renew the search for an industrial partner ‘later on’.

Increased Prisa proﬁts EL PAIS publisher Prisa posted pretax profits of €121 million for the first three quarters of 2023. This was 75 per cent more than the same period last year, with ‘robust growth’ in business, in come and margins in line with tar gets for 2023 and its 20222025 strategic plan, the Spanish multi national announced. Revenue rose to €679 million between January 1 and Septem ber 30, a 16 per cent increase compared with last year. Prisa’s operating margin of 17.9 per cent of revenue six percent age points more than by the end of September 2022 continued its ‘positive tendency’, the company said.

Hammers’ deal THE Gold family are selling part of their 25.1 per cent holding in West Ham United. Vanessa Gold, who became the club’s joint chair on the death of her father, David Gold, has as signed Rothschild & Co put out feelers for buyers. The Golds are the Hammers’ thirdlargest shareholders after David Sullivan (38.8 per cent) and Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky (27 per cent), who paid between £180 and £200 million (€207 and in €230 million) in 2021. Sources cited by the Guardian suggested that the Golds would sell up to 10 per cent or possibly more depending on the offer.

UK classics for the US FORTNUM & MASON intend to expand in the US as demand grows for British tea, jam and other groceries. Fortnum’s chief executive Tom Athron announced plans to open a warehouse in the US so it can sell directly to retail ers. Athron told The Telegraph that approximately 30 per cent of the international customers who visited the Piccadilly store were from America. “What we want to do in much the same way as we’ve done in the EU is to put some of our own stock on the ground,” he said.

FINANCE

14 EWN 9 - 15 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page

CLOSING PRICES 6 NOVEMBER

% CHG.

NET VOL

COMPANY

-17,00

-0,84%

855,07K

InterContinental

5.688,0

+4,20

+2,57%

669,91K

Intermediate Capital

1.400,00

2.493,0

-4,0

-0,16%

197,74K

Intertek

3.850,6

Anglo American

2.184,5

+29,0

+1,34%

464,30K

ITV

Antofagasta

1.359,00

+2,00

+0,15%

151,34K

Ashtead Group

4.927,0

+52,0

+1,07%

Associated British Foods

2.139,0

+34,0

AstraZeneca

10.282,0

-80,0

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

3I Group

2.002,48

Abrdn

167,45

Admiral Group

% CHG.

NET VOL

-182,0

-3,10%

141,46K

+16,00

+1,16%

274,90K

+39,0

+1,02%

51,10K

66,50

+1,36

+2,09%

1,02M

J Sainsbury

281,00

+9,20

+3,38%

2,14M

227,26K

Johnson Matthey

1.573,5

+31,5

+2,04%

41,77K

+1,61%

146,93K

Land Securities

613,90

+8,40

+1,39%

575,56K

-0,77%

158,54K

Legal & General

222,90

+0,40

+0,18%

7,97M

Lloyds Banking

42,38

+0,60

+1,44%

30,33M

London Stock Exchange

8.320,0

-40,0

-0,48%

78,68K

494,90

+7,00

+1,44%

517,30K

-4,00

-0,30%

264,30K 632,93K

Auto Trader Group Plc

627,20

+2,20

+0,35%

340,60K

Aviva

405,19

-1,00

-0,25%

2,08M

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

1.14807

0.87093

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0699 Japan yen (JPY)........................................160.02 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9635 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4617 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.860

B&M European Value Retail SA539,80

+7,20

+1,35%

563,68K

Melrose Industries

BAE Systems

1.104,00

-2,00

-0,18%

782,84K

Mondi

1.345,00

Barclays

134,85

+1,64

+1,23%

10,95M

National Grid

1.000,00

0,00

0,00%

NatWest Group

185,70

+3,90

+2,15%

6,29M

7.377,5

+120,0

+1,66%

44,39K

DOW JONES

Ocado

535,00

+25,80

+5,07%

523,84K

CLOSING PRICES 6 NOVEMBER

Persimmon

1.110,2

+37,5

+3,50%

295,10K

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE

CHANGE% VOLUME(M)

Phoenix

469,10

+1,40

+0,30%

378,04K

Prudential

889,00

+17,40

+2,00%

1,04M

3M American Express Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Dow Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce Inc The Travelers UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walgreens Boots Walmart Walt Disney

92,31 150,85 266,59 177,57 192,01 239,12 148,76 52,75 57,09 48,99 313,76 294,53 186,43 147,01 37,70 150,24 141,42 266,85 102,85 348,32 105,08 151,44 208,11 168,95 536,13 35,90 243,25 21,50 165,52 83,29

+1,75 +4,40 +5,75 +3,60 +2,63 +7,29 +4,78 +0,56 +0,65 +0,78 +6,60 +7,90 +2,44 +1,61 +0,41 +1,55 +2,48 +4,88 0,00 +2,25 +4,20 +1,83 +4,20 -0,33 +4,53 +0,50 +4,67 +0,87 +0,65 +2,22

+1,93% 2,62M +3,00% 3,11M +2,20% 2,47M +2,07% 71,89M +1,39% 4,30M +3,14% 5,70M +3,32% 11,06M +1,07% 17,43M +1,15% 13,08M +1,62% 3,74M +2,15% 2,60M +2,76% 3,60M +1,33% 3,03M +1,11% 3,79M +1,10% 35,26M +1,04% 5,33M +1,78% 9,44M +1,86% 4,11M 0,00% 5,38M +0,65% 24,21M +4,16% 8,06M +1,22% 5,86M +2,06% 4,96M -0,19% 1,28M +0,85% 2,34M +1,41% 24,67M +1,96% 6,27M +4,22% 9,18M +0,39% 5,09M +2,74% 11,48M M - MILLION DOLLARS

Barratt Developments

440,20

+8,00

+1,85%

892,76K

Berkeley

4.242,0

+64,0

+1,53%

18,31K

BHP Group Ltd

2.388,00

-21,00

-0,87%

176,28K

497,45

-1,15

-0,23%

6,58M

British American Tobacco 2.527,0

+15,0

+0,60%

362,87K

British Land Company

326,20

+8,20

+2,58%

498,50K

BT Group

122,11

+4,70

+4,00%

9,63M

Bunzl

2.939,0

-1,0

-0,03%

31,09K

Burberry Group

1.736,0

+13,0

+0,75%

143,34K

Carnival

883,4

+9,8

+1,12%

101,91K

Centrica

155,40

-2,20

-1,40%

17,62M

Coca Cola HBC AG

2.130,0

+26,0

+1,24%

61,67K

Compass

2.072,68

-29,00

-1,38%

302,50K

CRH

4.669,0

+34,0

+0,73%

54,15K

Croda Intl

4.465,0

+24,0

+0,54%

DCC

4.667,0

+5,0

+0,11%

Diageo

3.204,5

+20,0

DS Smith

288,71

EasyJet

Reckitt Benckiser

5.484,0

-62,0

-1,12%

176,05K

Relx

2.848,00

-41,00

-1,42%

469,53K

Rentokil

443,20

+16,60

+3,89%

5,61M

Rightmove

469,10

-4,70

-0,99%

1,21M

Rio Tinto PLC

5.359,0

+5,0

+0,09%

250,37K

Rolls-Royce Holdings

222,74

-0,80

-0,36%

5,17M

Sage

976,20

-15,20

-1,53%

304,74K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.332,00

+12,00

+0,91%

3,72K

+4,9

+1,28%

325,03K

Schroders

389,0

106,96K

Scottish Mortgage

673,87

+5,00

+0,75%

496,32K

36,40K

Segro

769,00

+20,40

+2,73%

674,88K

+0,63%

324,66K

Severn Trent

2.690,8

+22,0

+0,82%

189,47K

+0,30

+0,10%

295,19K

Shell

2.706,5

-61,5

-2,22%

1,41M

387,00

+10,00

+2,65%

967,71K

Smith & Nephew

991,00

+29,00

+3,02%

1,12M

Experian

2.624,0

+16,0

+0,61%

240,53K

Smiths Group

1.633,50

+9,00

+0,55%

73,35K

Ferguson

12.683,0

-105,0

-0,82%

11,05K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 8.420,0

+74,0

+0,89%

15,75K

Flutter Entertainment

13.745,0

+400,0

+3,00%

159,03K

SSE

1.698,50

+15,00

+0,89%

436,61K

Fresnillo

551,80

+6,20

+1,14%

107,24K

St. James’s Place

665,00

+4,40

+0,67%

323,55K

Glencore

440,90

+0,55

+0,12%

3,56M

Standard Chartered

620,50

-0,40

-0,06%

1,83M

GSK plc

1.400,00

+3,80

+0,27%

786,55K

Taylor Wimpey

113,88

+1,95

+1,74%

9,74M

Halma

1.887,5

+5,0

+0,27%

518,21K

Tesco

275,90

+1,90

+0,69%

3,16M

Hargreaves Lansdown

744,30

+17,20

+2,37%

341,91K

Tui

445,20

+13,60

+3,15%

364,05K

Hikma Pharma

1.859,00

+23,50

+1,28%

54,15K

Unilever

3.880,5

-21,0

-0,54%

263,31K

HSBC

603,80

+2,50

+0,42%

4,84M

United Utilities

1.088,00

+6,50

+0,60%

211,97K

IAG

149,50

+1,75

+1,19%

6,17M

Vodafone Group PLC

77,88

+0,66

+0,85%

8,37M

Imperial Brands

1.807,00

+19,00

+1,06%

137,38K

Whitbread

3.240,0

-72,0

-2,17%

170,09K

Informa

719,20

-3,20

-0,44%

237,05K

WPP

744,00

+16,20

+2,23%

500,63K

currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 6 NOVEMBER

COMPANY Most Advanced Roku, Inc. Shopify Inc. Palantir Technologies Inc. Affirm Holdings, Inc. Informatica Inc. JFrog Ltd. ADT Inc. Lightspeed Commerce Inc. Gildan Activewear Inc. DoorDash, Inc. Fastly, Inc.

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+30.74% +22.36% +20.44% +19.48% +17.85% +16.56% +16.49% +15.92% +15.75% +15.67% +15.58%

39.924M 42.696M 168.822M 24.616M 1.834M 1.954M 5.956M 1.621M 1.381M 12.31M 6.857M

-42.13% -31.86% -16.97% -16.12% -15.82% -15.76% -13.56% -13.07% -12.82% -12.66% -12.62%

56.717M 10.199M 3.599M 9.859M 4.106M 2.32M 7.183M 7.911M 179,512 1.086M 1.297M

Most Declined Confluent, Inc. Remitly Global, Inc. Inari Medical, Inc. Procore Technologies, Inc. Tenable Holdings, Inc. Regal Rexnord Corporation KBR, Inc. BorgWarner Inc. Markel Group Inc. Belden Inc. Schneider National, Inc.

‘

FINANCE

euroweeklynews.com

BUSINESS EXTRA Shopping early JOHN LEWIS said shoppers were preparing for Christ mas earlier this year, with sales of seasonal ranges 10 per cent higher than usual in October. Although total holi day spending will rise by 3.4 per cent to £110 billion (€126.17 billion), GlobalDa ta’s analysts predicted that British households would spend less and choose cheaper items this year.

Bank puzzle SPAIN’s high street banks Santander, BBVA, Caixa Bank, Sabadell, Bankinter and Unicaja are reporting record profits and paying out the highestever divi dends although Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank and Sabadell have between them lost 250,000 share holders in the first nine months of 2023. The excep tions are Bankinter and Uni caja.

9 - 15 November 2023

EWN 15

Slowdown for Aston Martin Game over ASTON MARTIN announced that it will be delivering fewer cars than planned this year. The company ex pects to sell 6,700 DB12 models in stead of 7,000 after supply chain and software problems affected production of the sports cars produced at the Gaydon (Warwickshire) works. Delays in DB12 deliveries were responsible for a £48.4 million (€55.6 million) loss

Aston Martin shares went down by more than 15 per cent immediately af ter the November 1 announcement, falling to their lowest level since May. r alk rW Prices had rallied /M C it: C d during the first six months e r to c Pho of this year in the wake of deals with Geely in China ASTON MARTIN: ‘Exceptional demand’ for DB12 model. and the USbult Lucid, but dropped by more than 50 in the third quarter of this £38 million (€43.7 million) per cent since August. year, compared with the that analysts had predicted. Despite the thirdquarter production delays, Aston Martin said that it can still meet its target of an annual £2 billion (€2.3 billion) in INDITEX founder Amancio Ortega, who per cent stake in Telefonica, the gov sales by 2025. is still its majority shareholder, turned ernment would like to see 5 per cent Chief executive Amedeo down a government proposal to invest state ownership of Telefonica without Felisa stressed “exceptional in Telefonica. the State Industrial Holding Company demand” for the DB12 and According to insiders quoted by finan (Sepi) having to meet all of the €1 bil said that the company cial daily, El Economista, Spain’s incum lion cost. would be posting “signifi bent government had a disappointing Ortega’s Pontegadea investment cant growth” compared to response from Ortega in its strategy to company recently denied that it was in last year, “driven by an in ensure that Telefonica remains Spanish. touch with the government although El crease in volumes as well as With Saudi Arabia’s ST telecommuni Economista sources insisted that con higher gross margin,” ac cations company now possessing a 9.9 tacts had taken place. cording to UK media re ports.

Ortega says no to proposal

LONDONbased EY con firmed that it will no longer audit the Codere New Top co gaming company or its subsidiaries. In an audit dated April 21, EY referred to the “existence of materi al uncertainty that the group can continue as a functioning business” after Codere Newtopco acknowl edged net losses of €477 million in the 13 months ending in December 2022.

Fashion ASOS online fashion re tailer announced that sales would probably fall by 15 per cent over the coming year after report ing a £300 million (€344 million) loss last year. As shares dropped to 365p (€4.19) analysts foresaw that ASOS would need to raise new cash, possibly by selling its Topshop brand, as net losses reached £648.5 million (€744.3 million).

euroweeklynews.com

The Tao philosophy LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT I’VE been an advocate of the Tao philos ophy for many years. Although I always respected the Christian and other be liefs, none ever really sparked any per sonal recognition of the whys and wherefores of life. Wandering some what blindly through the religious rea sons, explanations and different ideas for our manifestation never really left me any more knowledgeable of the true purpose of our existence. And then, completely out of the blue, I was introduced to the Tao philosophy; a remarkable belief which reveals the order and wisdom of individual life and the way it harmonises with the universe as a whole. Gradually it all became clear. I know that sounds a bit loopy from Leapy, but it was true. Our soul or spiri tual fragment is all a part of the one cre ation. Complicated? Not really. Imagine tak ing a bottle or a glass phial and filling it

with sea water. You then seal it and re turn it to the sea. Although it is separate it is still a part of the oneness. When it breaks, it once more rejoins the vast ocean it originated from. And that’s it. When the human body dies it releases the soul back into the creation. Once you come to terms with this you can set out on any journey that the manifestation you have chosen to exist in is capable of. The whole scheme of things slowly unfolds. Five to eight hun dred lifetimes are considered the ‘norm’. Each time it leaves the body the soul or spark moves slowly through the seven levels, which each contain seven levels, until the created ultimately be comes the creator. The whole belief enables you to live either a full and purposeful life, or if you choose, one that appears to construct nothing at all. Many a young soul attains high success, while older souls often pre fer to tend the gardens of their accom plished employers. To label me a racist is actually ridiculous. I truly believe that for an individual spirit to traverse the levels of creation it needs to experience every thing. Murderer, victim, success, failure,

black, white, yellow, dying in violence, or at peace. The Tao philosophy even ex plains phobias. If you have a fear of horses it may be that in a past existence you were trampled underfoot by a steed in some conflict or another. Talking of wars, don’t think because of my lack of column comments I’m not deeply in volved in views of the horrendous con flict between the Israeli community and Hamas. In modern warfare civilians are always the victims. Forty million died under the policies of Hitler and Western leaders of the Second World War. Tunnelling is al so not a new idea. The Japanese adopted the same tac tics in Okinawa, resulting in the deaths of thousands of their tragic ‘human shield’ civilians above ground. It’s the unfortunate nature of these disputes. Of course under Tao beliefs it’s not those that die that are the true victims, they simply revisit the ocean of their creation. It is the survivors who are truly suffering. May the cosmos help them all. Keep the faith Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com

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

FEATURE

from Year 1985

GIBRALTAR GATEWAY

Image: Alvaro German Vilela / Shutterstock.com

16 EWN 9 - 15 November 2023

IN a significant historical turn of events, the border be tween Gibraltar and Spain, which had been closed for 16 years during the rule of General Francisco Franco, was officially reopened in Border reopened. February 1985. The closure of the border was enforced on June 8, 1969, by General Francisco Fran co, who held the position of political leader, Caudillo, in Spain. This decision came shortly after Gibraltarians had over whelmingly voted to remain a part of the British Crown. Franco’s intent was to exert pressure on Gibraltar with the hope of forcing it into submission. However, his plan ultimately failed. It wasnt until 1985 that the border would see a com plete reopening, a condition set during Spain’s accession to the European Economic Community. The closure of the border stands out as one of the most transformative events in the history of modern British Gibraltar.It has had a profound and lasting impact on Gibraltar’s relationship with Spain. This year marks a significant milestone, with 54 years having passed since the border’s initial closure, and 41 years since its partial reopening in 1982. The memory of this period continues to shape the dy namics between Gibraltar and Spain, serving as a testa ment to the resilience of the people of Gibraltar in the face of adversity.

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com INTERVIEW

Why Europeans move to Spain Each week, we plan to speak to a European who has made the decision to settle here and as part of the ongoing series, we spoke to 24-year-old Niamh Eades who left the UK as a youngster to move to Alicante. AS a wide-eyed five-year-old in 2004, Niamh bid farewell to her Derbyshire roots and embarked on a thrilling adventure with her parents to a tiny Spanish village north of Alicante. “I can remember being really excited about the move because a promise had been made, the promise of a horse. My passion for these majestic creatures had ignited long before, and this move was a dream come true,” she confirmed. Niamh underwent a transformation, from British school desks to Spanish classrooms, armed with a three-month intensive Spanish course. These were the foundational steps of a life that would lead Niamh to Alicante University, where she pursued a degree in computer engineering. Today, she finds herself navigating the data streams of a media company as a data analyst. It seems Niamh’s childhood dream never waned as she confirms: “I share my world with two horses and two ponies among other rescue animals.” When asked about any challenges of living in Spain, Niamh confesses, “Being a

Niamh Eades.

horse owner in Spain (legally) is a nightmare, but worth every hurdle. “And, what makes it all worthwhile is the weather, which is a bonus for animal lovers who spend most of their time outdoors.” When asked if there was anything about Blighty that Niamh misses, she confirmed: “I miss the London musical theatre scene, but Madrid’s theatre scene has witnessed a remarkable evolution in the past five years. “Still, the quirkiest discovery I’ve made about Spanish life is the need to eat popcorn while watching musicals.”

9 - 15 November 2023

EWN 17

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20 EWN 9 - 15 November 2023

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FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

AS people in Europe live longer, there is an ever increasing number of elderly people who have worked for the required number of qualifying years and are entitled to receive a State Pension. It appears that although British pensioners will see the triple lock benefit increase their pensions above inflation in April of next year, many still receive far less than their Spanish counterparts. The rules concerning State Pensions are without doubt complicated and this has been proven by the conflicting comments that we have received on our website. Simply visit https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/11/01/spanishpensioners-get-double-uk-amount/ if you want to see the article which has received almost 85,000 views so far.

“

In reply to Geoffrey Buxton

Definitely a major bone of contention Geoffrey. I am two years behind you and I worked from the age of 17 until I was 72 and my body said enough is enough. It is scandalous that we have a two-tier pension system, why is our old pension not good enough for the new pensioners. We should be on a level playing field, either raise the old one or lower the new one, we are all the same pensioners. Give me a political party that guarantees a one pension system and they will have my vote. Peter Selston

I live in Spain, worked for 13 years, also 37 years paid in UK, total pension received €1,300 per month before tax. Michael

I’m 77 years old, and get a lower pension than people retiring today, although I worked longer, why do we have a two-tier pension that has the older people worse off or are they just waiting for us to die. Geoffrey Buxton

John Ensor, your closing comment of “solely relying on the state” is a tad offensive. I worked and contributed to the system for 50 years. This was at the levels set by government and my expectation was and is that I should receive a pension that enables me to live above the breadline. I’m mid-70s, still working two part time jobs and paying tax on every pound I earn.

Max state pension in Spain is nearing €2,900. Michael

Looks like Spanish pensioners are better off than Spanish workers then. Lucky to have more than €1,100 per month. James O’Donnell

Well, isn’t that a surprise? You do not need much more income to be taxed in the UK so I would be surprised if Spanish pensioners did not enjoy being members of the tax club. Philip

Are Spanish pensioners taxed? £26,000.00 IS A LARGE SUM. Irish old age pension far less. Mary Rita Foster

The UK pension is so poor because people in the UK don’t kick off and just accept that all of the main parties don’t care for the UK people. They only care about their international profile. Giving foreign aid and gold plating their own pension. They should be totally ashamed. But, they just don’t care. David White

That’s rubbish! I’m a Spanish pensioner and I don’t get anything as much as that. And yes, I am taxed on the pension. Do you mean the sum ineuros John? Maria Angeles García

Ivan Baker

Comments should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

KEEPING pets at home with petsitters is a great and af fordable solution. And usually pets prefer it, to be in a famil iar space with familiar smells and routines maintained. And those of you familiar with us know that we have maintained good value for our customers in the last 10 years Yes, we are nearly 10 years old! And in all that time we have only ever raised our prices once. Standard membership is still only £69 per year! Not bad for free petsitting in your own home. If you’re planning a trip in the next few months register now to find petsitters in time. Earlier is better than later. Whether your trip is short or long, you need to prepare. All pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undis turbed. Join our pet and housesitting network, and the