Costa Calida 26 October – 1 November 2023 Issue 1999

YOUR EWN HAS

58

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION Issue No. 31 (1999)

26 Oct - 1 Nov 2023

COSTA CALIDA • EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

FREE • GRATIS

REPSOL RECOGNITION Kids v leukaemia

RECENTLY, nine establishments were honoured with the prestigious ‘Solete de Centro,’ (Suns of the Centre) a cate­ gory introduced by Guía Repsol (Repsol Guide) to recognise gastronomic trea­ sures in historic city centres and nearby areas. Out of the 350 such distinctions in Spain, seven belong to Murcia and two to Cartagena. This brings the total of ‘Soles’ (Repsol’s ‘Sun’ distinc­ tions ) in the region of Murcia to 75, across the various categories.

In Murcia, award­ winning establishments include Café Bar Verónicas, Cucú, La Bien Pagá, Bodegón Los Toneles, Conjugoo, Café Bar Gran Vía, and Pastelería Bonache. In Cartagena, the distinguished venues are El Cantón and La Marquesita.

In the capital of Murcia, Guía Repsol has selected three bars: Café Bar Verónicas, led by renowned chef Samuel Ruiz, who continues to experi­ ment with signature tapas, such as their iconic ensaladilla and home­made stuffed sirloin.

Café Bar Gran Vía is a city emblem, offering quintessential Murcian prod­

Grape gaff THE Local Police recently came across a parked car loaded with grapes in the neighbourhood of Los Bar­ reros in Cartagena. Due to the fact that the car was inex­ plicably loaded with grapes, the Local Police treated their find with suspicion.

They set off to find the owner of the vehicle. After locating the owner and test­ ing the fruit they discovered that the grapes may be of il­ legal origin and promptly packed the car and its con­ tents off for further inspec­ tion with the Guardia Civil.

And so the mystery re­ mains unsolved, whether the owners are grape juice afi­ cionados or just trying to solve a really difficult math problem. We may never know!

Image: Facebook/ La Marquesita/Guía Repsol

THE entire educational com­ munity at CEIP Fulgencio Ruiz in Santiago de la Ribera re­ cently joined forces in an act of solidarity. They organised a charity run to combat child­ hood leukaemia, raising an impressive €1,200 for the ‘Unoentrecienmil Founda­ tion’, dedicated to paediatric leukaemia research.

The event welcomed a special guest, María José Bernal, the councillor for Edu­ cation, who commended the school’s efforts. The initiative was born from a desire to support a student’s sibling battling leukaemia, and it marked the school’s first­ev­ er charity run.

The day was filled with ex­ citement as the youngest students circled the school­ yard, followed by older stu­ dents completing two laps around the school perimeter.

Even parents and teachers joined in for a final, united ef­ fort. Donations were collect­ ed through envelopes dis­ tributed to the entire community.

Councillor María José Bernal expressed her grati­ tude, stating, “The San Javier Town Council is pleased to see such activities that en­ gage the entire community, serve a noble cause, pro­ mote physical activity, and foster collaboration.”

DISCOVER THE SOLES DE CENTRO: Celebrating Murcia’s culinary excellence.

ucts on an ideal terrace. Completing the trio is Cucú, which has competed for the title of Spain’s best tortilla and offers a range of delectable dishes. For tradi­ tional Murcian cuisine, Guía Repsol highlights Bodegón Los Toneles, cele­

brated for traditional dishes.

La Bien Pagá combines traditional and avant­garde cooking. Pastelería Bonache, renowned for its meat pies and pastries, and Conjugoo, known for its unique custom cocktails.

Image: Facebook/San Javier Town Hall

Running together, fighting leukaemia.

EWN

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

THE ADAPT Theatre Group set out on its long and winding journey back in 2009 and one of the few surviving members from the outset is scriptwriter and director Jane Cronin.

Jane developed an interest in amateur dra­ matics while working with children as an En­ glish teacher. She realised learning lines and performing was a great way for her students to learn the language while having fun.

Drama of a decade Over the years Jane combined language teaching and theatre work so that forming the ADAPT Theatre group was a natural extension.

From the beginning, her vision for the group was as a way of reaching out to the Spanish Catherine McGeer THE Regional Government is driving environmental volunteer efforts to re­ move waste from Protect­ ed Natural Areas. On Octo­ ber 22 a river cleanup took place at the Almadenes Canyon along the Segura River, using lightweight boats such as canoes and inflatable rafts to facilitate work within the riverbed.

María Cruz Ferreira, the Secretary for Energy, Sus­ tainability, and Climate Ac­ tion, explained that “the objective of these activities is to collaborate in the management, conserva­ tion, and promotion of the natural values of the Al­ madenes Canyon Protect­ ed Natural Area while pro­

community as well as a method of Spanish lan­ guage learning for the participants.

In the early days, Jane took on principal roles such as Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother and Snow White’s Wicked Witch, but as she was

LOCAL NEWS

able to make time for a full directing role she reduced her performances to cameo parts.

The Panto this year is ‘Ali Baba and the four and 1/2 Thieves’ at Casa De Cultura, San Pedro Del Pinatar, November 30 to December 2. Tick­ ets at €4 from Bar Amigos Avda Las Salinas, San Pedro; Mail Pinatar (SEUR) c/Reyes Catoli­ cos San Pedro; Animal Amigos Charity Home Shop, C/Penelope Oasis Blvd, Los Alcázares.

River cleanup Image: carm.es

2

Volunteers at Almadenes Canyon making a positive impact by removing waste from the river.

moting environmental vol­ unteering and citizen par­ ticipation.”

The Almadenes Canyon Protected Natural Area, lo­ cated in the upper course of the Segura River in the northeast of the Murcia Region, is home to high

natural values in riparian fauna, making it essential for conservation. Given the substantial success of these events, the Natural Area Management Team proposes continuing the volunteer activity initiated over the past four years in

collaboration with Cañón­ Cañón Multi­Adventure.

It raises awareness among the public about the importance of proper waste disposal, recycling, and behaviours that re­ duce the garbage ending up in rivers and seas.

Not just a tree BENEATH a lemon grove, at the base of the western slope of Castillejo de Monteagudo, lie the remnants of another Andalucian palace. The archi­ tectural elements that led re­ searcher Julio Navarro from the School of Arab Studies­ CSIC to support this discovery include a brick archway erect­ ed to expand the palace and a courtyard with its monumen­ tal gateway, later modified during Christian times.

The discovery was made during excavations in 2018, but it’s only now, in the third and final campaign of 2023, that its significance has been con­ firmed. After reviewing histori­ cal documents and consulting land records, Navarro believes these structures were part of the grand complex that Ibn Hud erected in the 13th centu­ ry to accommodate his court during the Taifas period.

These recent findings shed light on the history of the ex­ tensive Almunia of Monteagu­ do. Ongoing research funded until 2026 will continue to un­ cover the secrets of this unique heritage and its cultural signifi­ cance for Murcia.

LOCAL NEWS CLOCKS BACK ON Sunday October 29 at 03.00, Day­ light Saving Time ends and the clocks will be turned back one hour to 02.00. There will be more light in the morning, however the dark nights will be drawing in.

NIBS EXTRA Magic festival ON November 11 and 12 the beautiful Teatro Romea in Murcia City will host Mur­ cia’s Festival of Magic. This festival will include around 20 different shows from illu­ sionists to magicians. For more information visit teatroromea.es

Cheese & beer ON Saturday, November 4, La Aljorra will celebrate its fifth Beer and Cheese Fair.

From 11 am until 11 pm you can try the traditional gourmet cheese and beer market. There will also be ac­ tivities for all the family.

Lucius legend DISCOVER the ‘Legend of Lu­ cius’ Horror Passage at the Archaeological Museum Los Baños in Alhama de Murcia this Halloween week. On Oc­ tober 28 and 29, the muse­ um transforms into Lucius’ tomb. Tickets are €5, with €1 donated to AECC, available at the museum.

DUI crash A DRIVER in San Javier crashed their car while four times over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.

The incident occurred in San­ tiago de La Ribera, resulting in property damage. The driver now faces charges.

New signals CARTAGENA introduces groundbreaking technology in its traffic signals, enhanc­ ing the mobility and safety of visually impaired individuals.

This system, known as Pass­ blue, activates only when needed, reducing unneces­ sary noise pollution. See Cartagena City Hall social media pages for info.

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

A remarkable journey THE Director General of Diversity Affairs, Pedro Mondéjar, hailed Carmen Hernández, a sixth­grade stu­ dent at the Reino de Murcia School, as an ‘example of re­ silience.’ Carmen, alongside the Spanish women’s under­ 25 wheelchair basketball team, clinched fourth place in the World Championship held in Thailand. “With just two years of training, our student achieved a remarkable athlet­ ic feat, facing players twice her age for the first time,” re­ marked Mondéjar, predicting, “this world champion will be a true sports role model for fu­

Image: carm

Celebrating Carmen's Remarkable Journey to Victory!

ture generations.”

Mondéjar emphasised the crucial role of the educators at the Reino de Murcia Primary School, a renowned institution for motor function disabilities.

He also highlighted the signifi­ cance of the Spanish team’s achievement, of which Car­ men Hernández is a part. The Spanish women’s under­25 wheelchair basketball team made history by competing in the World Championship for the first time, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 3 to 9, with 10 teams participating.

Carmen’s remarkable journey is indeed an inspiration to all.

Feria Alhama 2023 Inclusive championship AS part of the festival of Alhama de Murcia they organ­ ised a spectacular parade with floats and dance groups who all understood the assignment!

From Space Jam to Marvel and even Barbie, the movie of the year was represented in the parade viewed by locals and visitors from all over the region.

Plenty of other activities were arranged to celebrate the town with live music and concerts, workshops, and children’s activities popping up throughout the town.

The festival as always celebrated the traditions and heritage of the town demonstrating their traditional dance while dressed in the iconic clothing of their an­ cestors. With their festivities coming to a close for an­ other year Alhama de Murcia has announced a Hal­ loween programme that will be revealed in the following days.

Stay tuned to their social media pages for more infor­ mation.

Image: sanpedrodelpinatar.es

Uniting abilities through sports.

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR is set to host the 2023 FEDDI Spanish Indoor Football Championship, showcasing a commitment to inclusivity and support for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Organised by the Spanish Federation of Sports for Peo­ ple with Intellectual Disabili­ ties and the Aidemar Sports Club, the event will take place from November 2 to November 4 and will be shared with neighbouring San Javier.

Pedro Vivancos, the Sports councillor of San Pe­ dro del Pinatar, expressed gratitude for the town’s se­ lection as a host city, em­ phasising the champi­ onship's role in promoting inclusivity, equal opportuni­ ties, and fundamental val­ ues.

The championship will feature several categories, including Male Competition (1st and 2nd division), Adapted Category (1st and

2nd division), and Mixed Sports Skills, with around 350 athletes from 35 clubs across Spain expected to participate.

The Aidemar Association will also actively promote adaptive sports by introduc­ ing 2,000 schoolchildren to this significant event, high­ lighting the importance of inclusivity in sports.

EWN

3

Terrace extension IN Puntas de Calnegre local restaurant owners are lobbying to extend the opening of their beachside terraces be­ yond the November 15 deadline until Decem­ ber 31. Local restaurant and bar owners argue that the region’s mild winter climate which lasts well into January and the economic bene­ fits of serving customers during the extended season make this a vital move. He highlights the economic significance of retaining the terraces during this extended pe­ riod, ensuring the sur­ vival of thriving busi­ nesses that provide employment opportuni­ ties.

Puntas de Calnegre is not just a seasonal beach destination; it’s a year­round hub for culi­ nary tourism, attracting visitors from across Spain. This small village, with a small winter pop­ ulation, becomes a vi­ brant, community cen­ tre in the off­season, thanks to the presence of these businesses.

Mayor Fulgencio Gil has taken action by ap­ proaching the Coastal Demarcation in Murcia, where discussions have yielded positive signs for the extension.

The Euro Weekly News publishes more content both online at euroweeklynews.com and in its papers than any other English news publication in Spain.

Even better, our news online and in print is FREE and we promise to

always keep it that way.

FOR MORE NEWS STORIES euroweeklynews.com

EWN

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

Community spirit ALBATROS, a residential com­ munity in Los Alcazares held its first ‘Caldero day’ on the beach. The event was a huge success, raising €1,146 for MABS Cancer Support Foun­ dation which provides sup­ port, care, and comfort to people with all types of can­ cer. The day was organised by the Albatros community pres­ ident Gary and his wife Lisa, along with two other commit­ tee members Chris and his wife Janette. They had consid­ erable help from numerous other residents, making the event a combined effort.

The event featured BBQ food, drinks, and a raffle with prizes donated by 23 local businesses.

The raffle was particularly successful, raising more than the organisers had hoped for.

The cheque presentation to Mike Downie, MABS San Javier Area Coordinator, was attended by several of the business owners who had supported the event.

Feedback from attendees has been fantastic, with many requests to run the event again next year. The success of the Albatros Caldero day is

a testament to the communi­ ty spirit of the residents.

It is also a reminder of the importance of supporting lo­ cal charities, which play a vital role in the community.

4 Only four words in the English language end in ‘dous’.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK “Knowledge is power.”

Meaning the more you know, the more powerful you can be in your life. This phrase is often attributed to Francis Bacon, but Thomas Jefferson also used the phrase on at least four separate occasions.

LOCAL NEWS

Costa Calida Cruisers THE Costa Calida Cruisers Motorcycle Club is gearing up for its much­anticipated seventh annual Memorial Run, planned for Sunday November 5 at the stunning Colina Roja in Mazarron. This charitable event is a tribute to fallen bikers and those instrumental in the club’s inception.

Last year over 80 big ‘bikes roared around a 65­kilometre route through Mazarron, over mountains and villages in the campo before returning to the Colina Rojo to enjoy an afternoon listening to music from a local band, eating, drinking, browsing the stalls, and participating in a raffle. Apart from the bikers, members of the public turned out to enjoy the event and helped to raise nearly €1,000 for charity.

Costa Calida Cruisers MCC has a proud history of supporting local causes, and this year, their focus is on ‘Making a Difference’.

The charity’s commitment to aiding the less fortunate transcends race and religion, with initiatives ranging from supporting disabled children to creating accessible gardens and

Image: Costa Calida Cruisers

4

REVVING UP FOR A CAUSE: The Costa Calida Cruisers’ Memorial Run.

assisting The Samaritans.

While the Costa Calida Cruisers MCC is primarily for experienced motorcyclists with larger bikes, they warmly welcome new riders, provided they’re dedicated to gaining experience. This year’s Memorial Run, at the Colina Rojo, promises an unfor­ gettable day for all, not just bikers, com­ plete with a thrilling ride­out, free paella and drinks, enticing stalls, a raffle, and live music from Rufus and the Bandidos. Mark your calendars for November 5 and join the festivities while supporting a noble cause.

EWN

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

LOCAL NEWS

Dragon boat memorial OVER 250 participants from Australia, the United States, Cyprus, Cantabria, Valladolid, Granada, and Torrevieja, among others, participated in a dragon boat memorial in San Pedro del Pinatar on October 22. The event was held in hon­ our of Jan Collins, the founder of the BCS category for breast cancer survivors. The memori­ al was the culmination of a week­long training camp that took place in San Pedro del Pinatar. During the camp, par­ ticipants learned the basics of dragon boating and had the opportunity to enjoy the town’s beautiful surroundings, climate, and cuisine.

In addition to the BCS cate­ gory, there were also 12 wom­ en’s teams competing in the memorial. The day was an op­ THE Region of Murcia has so­ lidified its position as one of Spain’s leading producers and exporters of paprika, as re­ vealed by the 2022 data, indi­ cating that over 37 per cent of Spain’s total paprika produc­

Image: Facebook/San Pedro del Pinatar Town Hall

6

Dragon boaters from around the world came together in San Pedro del Pinatar.

portunity for participants to support the cause of breast cancer awareness and to share experiences and information about their disease and the sport. “This is a great event that brings people together from all over the world to cele­ brate the sport of dragon boat­ ing and to raise awareness about breast cancer,” said Pe­ dro Vivancos, the Sports coun­

cillor for San Pedro del Pinatar.

“We are proud to host this event in our town and to sup­ port this important cause.”

The memorial was organised by the Pinatarense Sports As­ sociation, in collaboration with the Jan Collins Foundation. The foundation was established in 2008 to support breast cancer survivors and to raise aware­ ness about the disease.

Spicy success tion was exported abroad.

This remarkable achieve­ ment was highlighted by Sara Rubira, the Minister of Water,

Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, during the inaugura­ tion of the Second Regional Paprika Fair in Totana.

Paprika holds a special place in the agricultural and culinary history of the Murcia region, renowned for its quali­ ty at both national and inter­ national levels.

In 2022, Murcia produced over 3,000 tons of paprika, ex­ porting it with a total value of €27 million. This increase highlights the revival of a product deeply rooted in Murcia’s agriculture, doubling its production within just five years.

The Denomination of Ori­ gin Pimentón de Murcia plays a significant role in promoting and innovating this traditional product, preserving its au­ thentic flavour.

Currently, the region boasts 48 paprika and spice indus­ tries, cultivating over 620 hectares of paprika.

LOCAL NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

Marbled Duck

ON World Nature Conserva­ tion Day, Las Moreras lagoons in Mazarron saw the release of 15 Marbled Ducks, an en­ dangered waterfowl species.

The event marked the second phase of the Life Marbled Duck Project, which runs until 2025 and involves the Region of Murcia.

The initiative has the fol­ lowing objectives: to bolster the Marbled Duck population, the most threatened duck species in Europe, to solidify their presence in the region, and to protect their natural

Image: mazarron.es

Conservation Efforts in Las Moreras, Mazarron.

habitat, the wetlands. The Marbled Duck’s reintroduc­ tion aims to enhance the con­ servation of 3,000 hectares of wetlands and reduce the risk of extinction.

LA MANGA is gearing up for a spooktacular Halloween party on October 31. The party will be held at Galerías El Flamenco, located at Km 4, Salida 40. The party will feature a variety of activities for all ages, in­ cluding a costume contest for children and adults, a live cemetery with actors, a story time, music and DJ Galindo, children’s workshops, a performance by Ballet María Carmona, and a 360­degree photo booth with unlimited slow­ motion videos and props.

This effort includes restor­ ing degraded areas and im­ proving the habitat, such as clearing reed beds. The 15 Marbled Ducks were provid­ ed by the Valencian Govern­ ment, and bred in captivity at the La Granja Wildlife Recov­ ery Centre in Valencia.

The Life Marbled Duck Pro­ ject boasts a total budget of €6,374,972, with significant funding from the European Union, as well as contribu­ tions from various partner or­ ganisations committed to wildlife conservation.

The party is free to at­ tend, but registration is required for the cos­ tume contest and the tourist train. The tourist train will take riders to Cabo Palos for a spooky adventure. The party is organised by the mu­ nicipalities of San Javier and Cartagena, the Galerías El Flamenco Merchants Association, the Cultural, Sports, and Leisure Association of La Manga, and the Cabo Palos Neighbourhood Association. No matter what your age, you’re sure to have a great time!

Halloween party

EWN

7

LOCAL NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

Electric bus THIS week, the test drive for the new 100 per cent electric bus model was conducted, and they were attended by the Director General of Mobil­ ity and Transport, María Do­ lores Solana.

Solana emphasised that the goal is to make regional trans­ portation ‘more efficient, adaptable, and citizen­cen­ tric.’ The region has allocated €23.76 million for the acquisi­

tion of Class I and Class II elec­ tric buses. The definitive launch of this new electric bus model in the Region of Murcia is scheduled for next year.

Solano went on to say “We are witnessing a transforma­ tion in the transportation sys­ tem with the aim of progres­ sively improving the bus fleet, connections, and providing users with new alternatives to address the existing deficit.”

Among the planned mea­ sures are expanding the net­ work, introducing new trans­ portation modes, optimising routes, and schedules, and implementing advanced tech­ nologies. “For the regional government, improving the quality of life for residents by providing an effective mobili­ ty solution is a top priority,” concluded María Dolores Solana.

Spreading Christmas cheer THIS holiday season, Cartagena is pulling out all the stops to create a magical atmosphere for residents and visitors. The city’s iconic LED al­ mond tree lights, known for their spectacular display on Calle del Carmen, will be duplicated in several prominent locations, including Puer­ tas de Murcia, Santa Florentina, Jabonerías, and Plaza San Sebastián.

These lights will be adorned with decorative elements in gold and hues of violet and pink, ensuring they remain eye­catching even in day­ light.

The festive display is set to operate from De­ cember 1 to January 7, with Cartagena allocat­ ing more than half a million euros to fund this project. The esteemed firm Elecfes has been chosen as the service provider, with their pro­ posal valued at €588,665, including decorative lighting across various areas of the city, from the historic centre to the outskirts.

Adding to the spectacle are the plans for a cascading light curtain at the Nautical Station monument, along with a range of themed de­ signs and decorations throughout the city.

EWN

9

10 EWN 26 October - 1 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

LOCAL NEWS

Breast cancer awareness IN honour of World Breast Cancer Day, Cartagena’s may­ or, Noelia Arroyo, stressed the importance of ongoing re­ search into breast cancer and encouraged local women to participate in screening pro­ grams. Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and a leading cause of female mortality in Spain, with over 6,696 deaths in 2022. Spain records more than 37,000 new

cases annually. The focus, ac­ cording to Arroyo, should be on research, prevention pro­ grammes, and support for can­ cer patients.

Cartagena’s Health Area’s Breast Unit, operating since 2008, detects about 300 new cases each year and offers cut­ ting­edge mammography equipment. Carlos Díaz, Vice President of the Spanish Asso­ ciation Against Cancer (AECC)

in Cartagena, emphasises the significance of awareness and fundraising through sports events for their mission.

On October 21, AECC hosted various activities in Cartagena to support cancer research, in­ cluding fun classes, make­up workshops, and a narrated event.

Breast cancer survivor Lore­ na Madrid’s inspiring journey adds a message of hope.

Local Trade Fair

FROM November 3 to 5 the Lorca Local Mer­ chants Union is hosting the ‘Local Trade Fair’ in Plaza Calderón. This event offers Lorca resi­ dents the opportunity to purchase products at significant discounts. Santiago Parra, the Com­ merce councillor of Lorca, unveiled the fair alongside representatives from the Local Mer­ chants Union. Over three days, Lorca’s retailers will display their products, allowing both locals and visitors to discover substantial discounts and the freshest seasonal goods, all conve­ niently located in one place.

Shoppers attending this event can expect to

find items ranging from home decor, children’s, women’s, and men’s fashion, accessories, footwear, appliances, and perfumes.

Parra highlighted the municipality’s commit­ ment to promoting local businesses and collab­ oration with merchant associations to energise the city’s commercial activities. The Lorca Local Merchants Union expressed its support for lo­ cal businesses and collaboration among city re­ tailers, saying the ‘Local Trade Fair’ is not only an opportunity for retailers to showcase their products but also encourages everyone to con­ tinue to shop locally.

FINANCE Engine failure ROLLS­ROYCE intends to slash 2,500 jobs, 6 per cent of its global workforce of 42,000, as it moves towards a simpler organisation “fit for the fu­ ture,” according to chief exec­ utive Tufan Erginbilgic. The engine manufacturer con­ firmed that the UK would be the most affected by the plans for staff.

Out to sea THE CSIF union lodged a formal complaint against Spain’s Sal­ vamento Maritimo sea search and rescue agency, which it ac­ cused of not respecting its members’ rest periods. The union also said that the agency had stopped paying overtime, a ‘substantial’ and unjustified modification of employees’ work conditions.

Flat fizz LVMH, which owns Moet et Chandon, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, reported a €20 billion third quarter turnover, a 9 per cent rise on the same peri­ od last year, but lagging behind the second quarter’s 17 per cent. The luxury firm blamed ris­ ing inflation, global instability and reduced demand for high­ end drinks.

Helping hand SPAIN’S government would re­ ceive an extra €5 billion a year if it withdrew energy and food subsidies, it admitted when submitting its Budget proposals to the European Union. At the same time, the report left the door open to the possibility of maintaining some of the mea­ sures introduced to counteract inflation.

Next move NEXT paid £115.2 million (€132.76 million) for a 97 per cent stake in British fashion firm FatFace. The clothing and lifestyle label is another Next purchase following the acquisi­ tion of Cath Kidston, JoJo Ma­ man Bebe, Joules plus a holding in Reiss which it increased to 72 per cent last month.

euroweeklynews.com • 26 October - 1 November 2023

STAT OF WEEK

€205 million ($216 million)

paid to Barcelona genetic therapies company Splice Bio for a licensing and collaboration agreement in the US with Spark Therapeutics, part of multinational Roche.

Unchanged inflation INFLATION in the UK has re­ mained unchanged at 6.7 per cent in September.

Food prices fell for the first time in two years but the inflation rate based on the consumer prices index matched August’s, despite City predictions of a 6.6 per cent fall.

Spiralling fuel costs kept up the pressure on house­ holds, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) fig­ ures.

“There may be some dis­ appointment out there but we have seen significant falls in headline inflation over the last six months,” ONS’ chief economist, Grant

Photo credit: Rishi Sunak

BUSINESS EXTRA

32

RISHI SUNAK: Britain’s PM expects to half inflation this year

Fitzner, told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme.

Prices for food and non­ alcoholic drink fell 0.2 per cent in their first monthly dip since September 2021 as supermarkets vied with rivals, cutting prices of sta­ ples like milk, cheese and eggs, as well as mineral wa­

AIR NOSTRUM reported 2022 sales figures of €494.2 million and aggregated pre­tax profits of €19.6 million.

The airline, an independent carrier which operates as an Iberia Airlines franchisee, is out of the red after two years of losses during the pandemic.

Speaking at the company’s head­ quarters in Quart de Poblet (Valencia) on October 17, Air Nostrum’s chief ex­ ecutive Carlos Bertomeu said that 2022 had been a good year, showing a 51 per cent improved on 2021, owing to the increased demand registered since the second quarter of 2022.

“Air Nostrum returns to the path of profits, something it has never aban­

ter, soft drinks and fruit juice.

Prices were nevertheless higher than in September 2022, with the cost of an av­ erage family’s food shop 12 per cent higher on an annu­ al basis.

The ONS explained that production cuts by the prin­

Flying high Photo credit: CC/Alan Wilson

AIR NOSTRUM: The independent carrier is an Iberia franchisee.

doned, except at the beginning of its operations back in 1994 and in the two great global crises,” Bertomeu said.

The number of passengers rose by 55 per cent from 2.8 million in 2021 to 4.4 million in 2022 and in order to cov­ er the greater demand for seats, the company increased its number of

cipal oil­producing nations have raised global oil costs and would maintain pres­ sure on fuel prices in coming weeks.

Despite the unchanged September rate, economists said inflation would still fall below 5.1 per cent by De­ cember and meet PM Rishi Sunak’s promise to halve the rate this year.

The September inflation rate is important as the gov­ ernment normally uses this to calculate the following April’s increase in benefits, although Sunak is said to be considering a below­infla­ tion rise as the government juggles its public finances.

flights from 46,710 during the previous year to 65,569.

This more than doubled the pan­ demic year and improved Air Nos­ trum’s load factor, the per­ centage of available seating capacity occupied by passengers.

Bertomeu went on to announce the creation of the Strategic Alliance of Re­ gional Airlines (SARA), a holding com­ pany resulting from a strategic union between Air Nostrum and the Irish re­ gional airline CityJet. Air Nostrum’s parent Air Investment Valencia will own an 80 per cent stake in the new company, with the remain­ ing 20 per cent allocated to CityJet’s owner, CF Miga Investment Holdings.

New centres

Esteemed clients

Rates apprehension

SPORTS and entertainment multinational Topgolf will open eight new centres in Spain and Portugal.

The US company’s €250 mil­ lion investment will also create 3,800 new jobs, sources close to initiative told the Spanish me­ dia.

After almost two years of ne­ gotiations, Topgolf has signed an agreement with BAJ Gold Development Iberia, headed by Pablo Juantegui, former presi­ dent of Telepizza who will devel­ op the franchise chain in both countries.

Private equity fund Manna Capital Partners, led by Ulysses Bridgeman and Kevin Attkisson, will also participate in the com­ pany.

HIGHER interest rates meant that Span­ ish banks’ profits per client is at its highest in 15 years.

These are based on the difference be­ tween a bank’s yield on credit and the cost of paying interest on clients’ de­ posits.

This benefited the biggest banks, re­ vealed The Pulse, the latest report from the Alvarez & Marsal consultancy which placed CaixaBank at the head of the largest entities.

According to Alvarez & Marsal, Caixa­ Bank enjoyed a rentability of 3.2 per cent per client by the end of this year’s second quarter, ahead of BBVA (3.1 per cent) and Santander (3.1 per cent).

Bankinter, Unicaja, Ibercaja and Banca­ ja failed to make the 3 per cent cut with respective ratios of between 2.8 and 2.5 per cent, although the consultancy gave Sabadell 2.9 per cent.

BUSINESS premises’ rates in the UK could rise by £1.95 billion (€2.25 bil­ lion) next year.

Increases are linked to the September inflation figure, tradi­ tionally used to determine the an­ nual rates’ increase imposed by lo­ cal councils on retailers, pubs and offices.

Spokespeople foresaw that this year’s 6.7 per cent rise would be “the final nail in the coffin” for many businesses. It would “in­ evitably put renewed pressure on consumer prices,” warned the British Retail Consortium’s Helen Dickinson.

Leading retailers including Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Ikea also called on the government to elimi­ nate the inflation­linked increase from the October autumn budget.

Toyota overtakes Kia CAR sales rose this year, but by the third quarter were still 15.8 per cent below those of pre­pan­ demic 2019.

Industry analysts predict sales of 900,000 vehicles by the end of 2023 when, for the fourth consec­ utive year, they will fail to top one million.

Spain would usually expect an­ nual sales of between 1.2 and 1.3 million vehicles, although the last time this figure was reached was in 2019, with the purchase of 1,258,260 cars and off­roaders.

Meanwhile, sales to private buyers so far this year have topped sales to companies or hire and leasing firms, with Toyota overtaking Kia as the most popu­ lar make.

Rescue hope FORMER owners of Daily Tele­ graph, the Barclay family, launched a £1 billion (€1.95 billion) bid to scupper rivals’ hopes of snapping up the broadsheets.

According to Sky News, Abu Dhabi investors will assist the Bar­ clays in lodging a decisive offer that should write off their debt to the Lloyds Banking Group.

This, the family hopes, will pre­ vent potential bidders, said to in­ clude hedge fund billionaire Sir Paul Marshall, German media giant Axel Springer and Daily Mail owner, Lord Rothermere from acquiring the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Tele­ graph and Spectator when they are auctioned off for an estimated £600 million (€692 million).

Three’s company VODAFONE and Three insisted their proposed £15billion (€17.3 billion) merger would not increase prices although it would reduce the number of their competitors.

The Unite union told MPs on the Business and Trade Committee that merging both companies “would be bad” for consumers al­ though Three’s legal team main­ tained there were “no merger­re­ lated price rises” in the firms’ combined business plan.

The deal must first be approved by regulators, but should it go ahead the two companies would create the UK’s largest mobile net­ work with approximately 27 mil­ lion customers.

FINANCE

14 EWN 26 October - 1 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

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

CLOSING PRICES 23 OCTOBER

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

5.872,0

5.758,0

102,53K

1.319,00

1.302,50

13,61K

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

3I Group

1.991,00

2.012,00

1.987,00

25,76K

InterContinental

5.848,0

Abrdn

151,05

152,40

150,55

297,23K

Intermediate Capital

1.304,00

Admiral Group

2.447,0

2.455,0

2.435,0

16,32K

Intertek

3.990,0

4.007,0

3.979,0

7,83K

Anglo American

2.025,0

2.050,5

2.025,0

188,68K

ITV

63,39

64,00

63,44

188,85K

Antofagasta

1.311,50

1.322,50

1.293,50

53,51K

J Sainsbury

252,10

252,60

251,40

74,91K

Ashtead Group

4.703,5

4.766,0

4.701,0

28,97K

Johnson Matthey

1.469,5

1.479,5

1.468,5

10,69K

Associated British Foods

1.937,5

1.947,0

1.934,0

27,19K

Land Securities

567,80

577,60

566,80

79,20K

AstraZeneca

10.354,3

10.486,0

10.332,0

59,16K

Legal & General

207,17

208,80

206,60

1,06M

64,94K

Lloyds Banking

41,49

41,77

41,48

7,41M

8.234,0

8.276,0

8.206,0

20,28K

Auto Trader Group Plc Aviva

595,60 396,30

B&M European Value Retail SA542,20

603,60

594,00

NET VOL

COMPANY

COMPANY

394,90

369,42K

543,40

533,60

47,59K

Melrose Industries

454,30

458,70

453,90

159,61K

Mondi

1.250,00

1.267,50

1.246,50

107,90K

National Grid

956,69

961,80

952,00

195,61K

NatWest Group

216,20

219,20

216,00

513,72K

Next

6.908,0

6.908,0

6.848,0

7,92K

DOW JONES

Ocado

503,40

504,00

483,10

144,47K

CLOSING PRICES 23 OCTOBER

1.065,00

1.048,50

266,86K

Barclays

144,40

145,68

144,32

3,14M

388,70

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0587 Japan yen (JPY)........................................158.69 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9457 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4623 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.751

397,70

1.064,50

Barratt Developments

Units per €

London Stock Exchange

BAE Systems

394,60

387,70

114,68K

Berkeley

3.935,0

3.960,0

3.930,0

7,87K

BHP Group Ltd

2.240,50

2.258,00

2.240,50

45,39K

BP

542,61

544,70

536,80

1,72M

British American Tobacco 2.442,5

2.457,5

2.440,0

81,60K

British Land Company

294,40

300,20

293,80

98,94K

BT Group

112,65

114,45

112,60

471,31K

Bunzl

2.876,0

2.892,0

2.874,0

7,95K

Burberry Group

1.714,5

1.741,0

1.713,5

41,03K

Carnival

805,7

815,0

805,8

15,81K

Centrica

155,80

157,95

155,35

285,47K

Coca Cola HBC AG

2.113,0

2.120,0

2.112,0

9,84K

Compass

2.053,00

2.059,00

2.036,00

80,99K

CRH

4.529,0

4.551,0

4.501,0

39,35K

Croda Intl

4.039,8

4.070,0

4.038,0

DCC

4.412,0

4.436,0

4.407,0

Diageo

3.081,5

3.097,0

3.079,0

DS Smith

261,10

265,10

1.14887

0.87044

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

Persimmon

963,2

980,0

958,8

72,30K

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE

CHANGE% VOLUME(M)

Phoenix

442,00

445,60

441,10

109,09K

Prudential

824,60

834,60

823,80

171,53K

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

86,55 141,57 278,81 172,88 180,04 249,20 166,83 52,93 54,57 48,99 300,05 286,41 181,32 137,16 34,92 153,00 142,95 258,11 102,67 326,67 102,67 148,05 203,73 161,59 527,03 31,57 233,38 21,26 158,76 82,65

87,32 147,94 281,06 175,42 183,39 253,49 169,10 53,59 55,02 49,57 303,25 287,18 183,78 139,27 36,28 153,87 145,14 260,34 103,36 331,92 103,77 149,88 208,11 164,62 534,43 32,14 235,77 21,46 161,10 83,44

86,39 2,52M 141,44 8,22M 275,75 2,44M 172,64 63,02M 179,85 4,45M 248,16 3,08M 166,10 7,42M 52,80 22,03M 54,44 15,66M 48,92 3,91M 298,10 2,31M 283,61 2,85M 181,06 3,04M 137,12 4,84M 34,87 32,22M 152,33 7,17M 142,12 12,83M 257,56 3,77M 99,99 12,43M 325,45 24,97M 102,57 7,76M 147,92 7,08M 202,12 5,50M 161,32 1,50M 526,77 2,80M 31,55 27,16M 232,64 5,71M 20,48 13,55M 158,71 4,98M 82,61 10,26M M - MILLION DOLLARS

Reckitt Benckiser

5.940,0

5.960,0

5.932,0

29,67K

Relx

2.840,00

2.852,00

2.829,00

102,80K

Rentokil

454,00

465,70

453,30

451,54K

Rightmove

478,40

489,30

478,40

175,42K

Rio Tinto PLC

4.879,6

4.925,0

4.878,5

82,26K

Rolls-Royce Holdings

200,40

200,30

196,45

1,62M

Sage

955,40

959,40

950,60

91,71K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.259,00

1.264,00

1.259,00

0,88K

Schroders

365,0

370,6

364,6

64,08K

7,62K

Scottish Mortgage

645,35

652,60

645,00

196,30K

11,17K

Segro

690,00

701,40

689,40

120,95K

124,02K

Severn Trent

2.486,0

2.500,0

2.467,0

16,17K

260,50

156,29K

Shell

2.721,5

2.727,5

2.695,5

449,26K

EasyJet

358,57

361,30

357,50

162,64K

Smith & Nephew

917,40

926,00

917,00

44,80K

Experian

2.645,4

2.654,0

2.630,0

51,64K

Smiths Group

1.531,00

1.534,00

1.523,50

21,22K

Ferguson

12.690,0

12.725,0

12.575,0

2,92K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 8.120,0

8.206,0

8.124,0

2,97K

Flutter Entertainment

12.570,0

12.620,0

12.430,0

25,96K

SSE

1.562,50

1.573,50

1.558,50

37,98K

Fresnillo

540,20

545,60

538,80

30,83K

St. James’s Place

616,20

632,00

615,40

140,00K

Glencore

428,16

432,25

428,15

1,74M

Standard Chartered

715,80

720,00

714,80

202,14K

GSK plc

1.467,60

1.471,20

1.463,60

141,48K

Taylor Wimpey

103,75

106,20

103,60

632,30K

Halma

1.810,5

1.835,5

1.809,0

46,91K

Tesco

272,90

272,90

271,70

432,94K

Hargreaves Lansdown

690,96

699,60

690,20

119,71K

Tui

396,60

410,40

395,00

212,78K

Hikma Pharma

1.942,50

1.956,50

1.939,00

7,81K

Unilever

3.987,0

3.988,5

3.970,0

225,52K

HSBC

610,70

617,50

610,50

774,92K

United Utilities

1.018,50

1.030,00

1.012,50

96,72K

IAG

139,45

139,75

138,40

1,13M

Vodafone Group PLC

74,83

75,78

74,58

2,84M

Imperial Brands

1.710,50

1.716,50

1.707,00

74,49K

Whitbread

3.264,0

3.275,0

3.245,0

28,34K

Informa

686,20

689,80

685,00

59,97K

WPP

674,60

679,20

672,80

123,18K

NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 23 OCTOBER

COMPANY Most Advanced

CHANGE NET / %

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited +22.28% Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. +11.75% Euronet Worldwide, Inc. +8.93% Autoliv, Inc. +7.01% Country Garden Holdings Company Limited +6.96% Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. +5.93% Playtika Holding Corp. +5.59% R1 RCM Inc. +4.93% Genmab A/S +4.15% L'Oréal S.A. +4.14% BeiGene, Ltd. +4.12%

VOLUME 449,741 8.695M 1.56M 2.89M 22,531 2.787M 869,233 4.434M 2.473M 73,100 398,327

Most Declined SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. MSP Recovery, Inc. Enphase Energy, Inc. Incitec Pivot Limited Regions Financial Corporation Okta, Inc. Comerica Incorporated Husqvarna AB (publ) Western Alliance Bancorporation Rentokil Initial plc Joby Aviation, Inc.

-27.27% -19.23% -14.68% 0.00% -12.38% -11.57% -8.53% -8.46% -8.38% -8.35% -8.00%

21.316M 263,816 14.475M 365 37.373M 11.019M 5.35M 38,401 4.72M 1.274M 8.681M

‘

euroweeklynews.com

BUSINESS EXTRA Happy feet CINVEN, owner of Kurt Geiger since 2015, is said to be working with Bank of America on a fu­ ture auction of the luxu­ ry shoe brand for £400 million (€459.1 million).

Leading luxury goods groups as well as private equity firms are all ex­ pected to be interested in acquiring the prestige label which was found­ ed in 1963.

Cashing in BANKINTER earned €685 million between January this year and the end of September, a 59.2 per cent increase on the same peri­ od in 2022, thanks to inter­ est hikes. The bank’s net in­ terest margin shot up by 54 per cent while return on equity rose to 18.2 per cent, chief executive Maria Dolores Bancausa an­ nounced.

26 October - 1 November 2023

Don’t stop drilling BRITAIN’S Energy secretary warned that the country could not allow North Sea gas and oil output to diminish fur­ ther.

Speaking at Energy UK’s an­ nual conference in London on October 18, Claire Coutinho said that Britain could be­ come increasingly dependent on energy imports.

North Sea Transition Au­ thority (NSTA) data revealed that without new North Sea oil and gas wells, output would halve by 2030, Coutin­

photo credit: CC/David Woolfall

FINANCE

ENERGY MINISTER: New North Sea wells needed, Claire Coutinho said.

Amancio Ortega (again) IT is an unusual week when Zara founder Amancio Ortega fails to loom large in the financial news in Spain and elsewhere.

The latest information regarding one of the world’s richest men centres on Pontegadea Inversiones through which Ortega channels most of his activities in the property and energy sectors as well as the income from a 50.1 per cent hold­

ing in the Inditex empire.

This year, Pontegadea registered a consolidated profit of €2.3 billion at the end of the 2022 fiscal year, an increase of 30 per cent compared with 2021.

Nevertheless, this omitted the income from Ortega’s Pontegadea GB 2020 and Partler 2006 which includes another 9.29 per cent holding in Inditex.

ho said.

“This country would be forced to import up to 80pc of our oil and gas by 2030,” she told the conference.

“The UK will not only be subservient to foreign regimes, but risk decimating the same people and commu­ nities that we need on this green transition journey.”

The Energy secretary added that the UK was reducing oil and gas consumption in line with net zero targets, but added that without a new off­ shore drilling programme, production would fall “much faster” than demand.

The UK needs an annual 61 million tons of oil, but with 938 potentially­produc­ tive wells now inactive, British oil production fell to a historic low of 38 million tons in 2022. This would plunge to 22 million tons in 2030 unless new wells were drilled, NSTA data suggested, Coutinho said.

EWN 15

Cut-price TESLA has reduced the price of its basic Model 3 car in Britain by £3,000 (€3,443) to £36,990 (€42,460) in a bid to encourage demand for its electric vehicles as sales have slowed amid increased competition from China.

Elon Musk’s company has continually slashed prices in the US this year and also re­ duced its UK prices in Jan­ uary.

Bank job GERMANY is likely to back the Nadia Calviño, vice­president of the in­ cumbent Spanish govern­ ment as well as Economy minister, in her bid to head the European In­ vestment. Finance minis­ ter Christian Lindner re­ vealed that the German government had made its decision but although he did not wish to name the candidate, this is sure to be Calviño, insiders said.

16 EWN 26 October - 1 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

Egotistical celebrities

OUR VIEW

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT ALTHOUGH this ol boy has had his share of so­called ‘stardom’ over the years, it never stops to amaze me how far some egotistical celebrities are prepared to go to convince the public they are so utterly special.

Mariah Carey sure took the bubble recently, when she insisted that the promotors of a tour she had been booked for supplied someone to ‘handle her chewing gum’!

Apparently this young lady cannot bear to touch her chomped gum. She therefore needs someone to pick it up and bin it after she has spat it out. Not the job you would particu­ larly enjoy adding to your CV! Of course yours truly has had a few an­ tics in the past. One which I will nev­ er actually forget was my first trip to the USA as a budding ‘chart topper’.

On the way to Nashville to appear at the Grand Old Oprey, I laid over in

NY for a couple of days to do a bit of tele. Also there at the same time was Tom Jones. I had known Tom since the beginning of his career, when his manager Gordon Mills, who also managed me, was paying him 10 bob a week and changed his name from Woodward to Jones, to coincide with the popular movie playing worldwide at the time.

Riding high by then he was ap­ pearing at the Copacabana and also having a mad affair with the beauti­ ful Mary Wilson of the Supremes, who were the most successful Mo­ town girl group in the business and at that time appearing for a week in the Blue Room of the prestigious Waldorf Astoria.

After seeing Tom at the ‘Copa’ on my first night I was subsequently in­ vited to join him and Mary for a club crawl around the night spots of New York. To be honest I didn’t really en­ joy it too much because they were recognised just about everywhere we went and basically mobbed at every turn. Not me of course.

My Little Arrows was still rising up

the charts and I certainly hadn’t reached the heights of my two com­ panions. Nevertheless it was an in­ teresting night and rounded off by Mary eagerly inviting me and Tom to have a table at the Wardorf the next evening. We would be able to see the show and after be joined by her­ self and Diana Ross, who she insist­ ed, in her broad American accent, would truly ‘love me with my Beatle haircut and English accent’!

Consequently at the end of our evening the ol boy made tracks for the hotel with a skin full, a spinning head and a date for the following night with Diana Ross of the Supremes ­ who was gonna love me!

Not a bad start to the ol boy’s USA visit, someone who began his career starving and kipping on the benches of London’s Charing Cross station.

Not enough space to give you the fi­ nal result of this hopefully loving for­ ay. No need to ask Tom, I’ll tell you the outcome in the next blurb.

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

WILD LIFE

RECENT stories on the Euro Weekly News website about the ever increasing number of wild boar appearing in towns and on beaches across some parts of Spain have po­ larised opinion from readers.

We asked whether they are a danger that should be culled or catered for because they have only moved to towns because much of their traditional land has been tak­ en over and the drought has made it increasingly more dif­ ficult for them to find food and even water.

As will be seen on our Community Comments page, the response to the question was large and generally on the side of the boars. We expectedly had a few tongue in cheek responses with jokers suggesting that they were best served with a good chianti or were ideal for the plan­ cha but on balance the majority seemed to feel that hu­ mans owe a debt to look after the animals.

What we tend to overlook is the fact that they are breeding more quickly as there have been several wild boar and escaped pigs mating, so there are more of these hybrids fighting for less space and food.

An added problem is that research from the University of Queensland says that by uprooting carbon trapped in soil, wild pigs are releasing around 4.9 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually across the globe, the equivalent of 1.1 million cars. This is therefore a potentially growing problem, both from incursions into urban areas as well as added pollution. We don’t have a proposed solu­ tion but do recognise that the National Government (when there is one) will need to create a sensible policy to recognise the signs of danger and deal with it.

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com

26 October - 1 November 2023

From Burberry To 007 - Licence To Thrill That week, though, numerous tourists turned to me asking: “Where ARE we?” It was a daft advertising campaign which BREAKING VIEWS caused problems for the people who ac­ Nora is the author of popular psychological tually make TfL money: those who use suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. the network.

COMMUTERS and tourists were recently The same TfL that feeds its customers a left angry and confused after a marketing blow­by­blow barrage of idiotic safety an­ stunt to change signage nouncements: “The floor inside and outside Bond may be slippery; hold the Street tube station saw it handrail; see it, say it...” rebranded as ‘Burberry The same station that Street’ ­ as part of London opened late, millions over Fashion Week. budget.

Fine if you’re a regular How about the cheese tube traveller. You can people taking over Red Le­ quickly readjust to where icester Square? Armitage you are and be in on the Shanks Waterloo? Or the joke. Not so good if you’re Bond movie company re­ one of those anxious branding Bond Street tube: tourists you see on the ‘007’? tube every day, constantly Nora Johnson’s 12 criti­ checking they’ve taken cally acclaimed psychologi­ the right line or going in cal suspense crime thrillers the right direction. It’s no­ (www.nora­johnson.net) NORA’S LATEST THRILLER. toriously confusing all available online includ­ enough for people to nav­ ing eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), igate without this stunt.

Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Like many commuters, I’m normally in Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer a bubble of silence when on the tube. charity.

NORA JOHNSON

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

THE British Benevolent Fund was funded over a century ago to provide financial assis­ tance for British nationals in Spain who face extreme fi­ nancial distress and who have no other recourse, whether friends, family or state sup­ port. The BBF works with partner charities from www.supportinspain.info across the country as well as the UK’s consular network in Spain to help those who have no other means.

The lingering effects of the Covid pandemic is still with us ­ many people faced tough ­ almost impossible life affect­ ing situations due to losing their income and job.

One such was John who is in his late 50s and had been living in Spain for most of his adult life. He had been living modestly ­ doing odd jobs in gardens and bars which had seen him though many years ­ some good, some less so, but always with a roof over his head and a reasonable living to afford some of life’s luxu­ ries. With the pandemic all his work came to a shuddering halt ­ with every spike in Covid cases saw him deeper in debt as his savings were used up to

Make a donation Olaf Clayton of BBF.

pay for rent and food.

He managed to keep a roof over his head for a year but in the end he had no choice but to leave his apartment.

He packed his possessions into the car boot and lived there, living off a local food bank and the odd cash in hand job. He continued look­ ing for work, but it was very sparse and now that he was living in his car there were few takers. Although he was legal­ ly resident, he was not able to claim any state support due to a debt with the Spanish so­ cial security ­ it wasn’t much but meant that he could not claim any benefits such as the ingreso minimo ­ that with any income would mean he would be able to get back on his feet.

The debt was less than

€100. Working with a local charity who were able to pro­ cess the paperwork the BBF was able to able to pay the debt and pay for a short time a room in a shared apartment whist he awaited his pay­ ment. Which came through a few months later ­ John was able to find more regular work and get his life back on track. Today John has found himself a new place to live as well as plenty of work. He is back on track.

The BBF can only help peo­ ple like John with your sup­ port ­ if you would like to make a donation to the British Benevolent Fund please visit our www.british benevolentfund.org ­ thank you on behalf of the many for your help.

Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF

EWN 17

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

23

20 EWN 26 October - 1 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

C OMMENTS

OMMUNITY

THERE has been a huge response to our recent article on the Euro Weekly News website and Facebook page about the proliferation of wild boar and with more than 100 responses, already the general feeling is that they should be treated with care and respect rather than simply killed to make life easier for humans.

Read the article as it appears in this edition of your paper as well as these comments below and let us know your feelings on the matter.

“

Hunt/manage them where safe and possible, but let them be when they come for a sanctuary … feeding and approaching them is wrong and a recipe for confrontation !

William Sr. Koninckx

We have invaded their territory, so have to learn to live with them. They are a wild animal so our respect is needed, we definitely should be looking after them!

Sabrina Hope

I would not like to see them culled,but maybe pushing them back into the wild country.

Michael Stanton

No leave them alone, you’re building on all their places.

Christine Belmonte

I live in Andalucia for a very long time and witnessed how their habitat has been shrinking... Furthermore they come down from La Concha, because irresponsible people are to lazy to put their garbage into the containers, they leave it on the street around the containers or throw it everywhere on the street, which is an open invitation...

They don't bother humans, only the barking dogs can make them nervous, specially if they are mothers with little ones. When I'm walking my dogs I watch them, which many people don't do, because their face is sticking into their mobiles... The problems are the humans....

unless threatened.

Andrew Philip Coates

They are dangerous, they spread disease , people get their cars written off! They should be controlled, they continue to break through fences, destroy gardens (which were there actually before them) and procreate very rapidly. They hunt in packs with the parents often being 300 kgs each.

Beware what you wish for!

Barry Marshall

Trap, neuter, return (TNR) with vaccinations cost around €400 per head. Hunters are paid €2,000 on average per head, do you start to see the issue?

They are being deliberately bred and released. More hunters and wardens are coming forward to confirm it.

We then also factor in serious loss of habitat, drought and more rubbish due to more population, so the pigs are ‘in town’.

They often have cuts from rubbish. Rubbish they shouldn't be rummaging in. They should have feeding and watering stations with regular veterinary controls and with the huge amount of Chaparral forest decimated for urbanisations, Mijas should be creating a green belt with biodiversity area, there is plenty of land to do so.

Luisa Grajales

There's too many and they're causing fatal road accidents. I'd say cull and sell the meat.

Celeste Picken

They were on the beach today, weren’t causing a problem just trotting along.

Katalin Zu Windischgraetz

No way, they are beautiful animals, people have taken their natural habitats, this coupled with the loss of forest land due to fires have forced these magnificent animals down to the coast looking for food, they are not aggresive

Laura Charles

Please just let nature take its course. It was their land before we encroached on it. They deserve a life too.

Jacqueline Mellis

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.

PETS Pet-sitters for only £69/€79 per year! Vegan diets for dogs: A healthy 22 22

SPONSORED BY

THOSE of you who have seen our articles in the Euro Weekly News over the years 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.

We want you our customers to know that you are getting excellent value from a trusted source ­ HouseSitMatch.com. Standard mem­ bership 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.

Whether your trip is short or long, you’ll know that sometimes you must leave pets at home.

Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their rou­ tines undisturbed. Join our pet and house­sit­ ting network, and the sitters come for free!

Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com 2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when need­ ed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet

www.euroweeklynews.com 29 November June - 5 July 2023 2023 www.euroweeklynews.com • 26 October• -1

alternative or a step too far?

A pet-sitter cares for your pets at home.

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

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sit­ ters. Join our network for a small annual fee.

You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holi­ day. House­sitters see your advert, they re­ spond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials – 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com I have had nothing but good and helpful ser­ vice from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram Cos­ grave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga

How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com Need a pet or house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation!

Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20% discount using coupon code 20EWN – Reader exclusive offer. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com

THE vegan movement, which emphasises plant­ based diets free from ani­ mal products, has wit­ nessed substantial growth in recent years. As more people adopt vegan lifestyles, there’s a rising debate about whether our four­legged compan­ ions can also thrive on a vegan diet.

From a nutritional standpoint, dogs are om­ nivores, capable of ob­ taining nutrients from both plant and animal sources. However, the key lies in ensuring a well­balanced diet that meets all their dietary re­ quirements. Some vegan dog food brands claim to offer nutritionally com­ plete options, fortified with essential amino acids, vitamins, and min­ erals that dogs would typ­ ically derive from animal products.

However, veterinarians and canine nutritionists stress the importance of thorough research before making a dietary switch.

While some dogs may thrive on a vegan diet, others might experience deficiencies, leading to health complications.

Common concerns re­ volve around ensuring ad­ equate protein intake and the bioavailability of cer­ tain nutrients in plant­ based sources.

For owners considering this dietary shift, it’s cru­ cial to consult with a veterinarian or ca­ nine nutritionist. Regu­ lar health check­ups, monitoring for signs of nutrient deficiencies, and being attentive to

the dog’s energy levels and coat condition can provide indicators of their overall health.

In conclusion, while a vegan diet can be an op­ tion for some dogs, it’s not a one­size­fits­all so­ lution. Proper guidance and careful monitoring are paramount to ensur­ ing the well­being of our loyal companions.

SWITCHING DIETS: Make sure you take some advice.

The hidden paws: Are tenants secretly housing pets?

RENTAL agreements of­ ten come with a myriad of stipulations, and one of the most contentious among them is the ‘no pets’ clause. As a result, there’s a growing debate: are tenants secretly keep­ ing pets hidden from their landlords?

A recent survey re­ vealed a surprising num­ ber of renters admitting to housing pets without notifying their property managers or landlords.

The primary reason? A

deep bond with their fur­ ry companions and a lack of pet­friendly rental op­ tions. For many, the thought of parting with their pets is unimagin­ able, leading them to take covert measures.

However, this secretive approach can lead to complications. Hidden pets can cause damage, disturb neighbours, or even breach local housing regulations. Moreover, if discovered, tenants risk eviction or financial

EMERGENCY NUMBERS POLICE/FIRE/AMBULANCE: 112 24 HOUR PHARMACY FARMACIA ALICANTE - 965 910 220 FARMACIA PLAYA DEL CURA 966 706 880 24 HOUR VETS HOSPITAL VETERINARIA SANT VICENTE 965 668 582

penalties.

Landlords often cite property damage, poten­ tial allergies for future tenants, or increased in­ surance costs as reasons for pet restrictions. Yet, some argue that a more flexible approach might be beneficial.

By allowing pets and possibly charging a rea­ sonable pet deposit, land­ lords can cater to a larger pool of potential renters while safeguarding their property.

In conclusion, while the bond between humans and their pets is undeni­ able, transparency and open communication are key. Both landlords and tenants need to find a middle ground, ensuring that rental agreements cater to human needs without compromising the integrity of the prop­ erty.

26 October - 1 November 2023 • euroweeklynews.com BUY & SELL PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693

CAR FOR SALE

CLEANING SERVICES

CHARITY A L C O H O L I C S A N O N YM O U S I S A LC O H O L C O S TING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life - damaging everything that is important to you.

English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa B lanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possib l e d r i n k i n g p r o b l e m c o ntact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca. org (93323) CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)

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

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

MOTORING

PERGOLA COVERS TAILOR-MADE in durable canvas, made to measure pergola covers, cushions, sails, umbrella, spa and CAR COVERS. 10% off any two items.

Mazarron based, and reaching Almeria to Costa Blanca plus mail order. Google: KrugerCanopies.com WhatsApp: 667 879 399 krugercanopies@ yahoo.co.uk

TRANSLATORS

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

OTHERS EDS? We have the solution, Kamagra pills & jells, Cialis, Sidenafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs.Available by mailorder. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

23

CLASSIFIEDS REMOVALS & STORAGE

24 EWN 26 October - 1 November 2023

SPORT Image: Facebook/Orbit

euroweeklynews.com

Sailor’s Hornpipe IT was a sight to behold for the many Spanish passers­by. A dozen people, some of advancing years, dressed in striped shirts, white pants and hats, prancing around in unison to a strange tune.

What on earth was it? Why the SAMM Flash Dance for 2023 of course, at the Caldero Day in Los Al­ cazares on October 12, the Dia de la Hispanidad, national holiday where hundreds take to the beach to cele­ brate, with many clubs, groups, as­ sociation and families reserving a pitch with the town hall­ SAMM, the Sailing Association Mar Menor, has participated for more than 10 years, erecting a mar­ quee and SAMM banner along with BBQs and tables.

In recent years a Flash Dance rou­ tine has been performed each hour to entertain and attract the crowds.

For 2023 Christine, the Treasurer’s wife, suggested the Sailor’s Horn­ pipe, supplied the hats, organised the music and choreographed the moves which included swabbing

FLASH DANCE: The music and dance moves were choreographed.

decks, hauling on ropes, climbing rig­ ging and drinking grog, all simulated of course. The performances made many people stop, watch and enjoy the spectacle while they had their photos taken with the dancers or asked about our sailing activities. Be­ tween performances the performers socialised, partied and played the

various beach games on offer with the other SAMM members.

Everybody agreed it was a great social event but now it’s time to get back to serious sailing and the Sun­ day race days.

To find out everything about SAMM and it’s sailing opportunities visit www.sailingmarmenor.com.

Murcia ascend Image: Facebook/ Real Murcia CF SAD

IN an exciting match at the Estadio Romano José Fouto de Mérida, Real Murcia clashed with Mérida AD in front of a crowd of 4,000, including 200 loyal supporters who made the journey from Murcia. María del Mar Carrillo travelled with the club as president for the first time in an official Re­ al Murcia match, and was joined by Felipe Moreno, the club’s major share­ holder, and Javier Recio, the director of sports.

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 66th minute when Rodri Ríos netted the sole goal of the encounter for Real Murcia. Displaying unwa­ vering determination and a no­frills approach, Real Murcia valiantly defend­ ed their lead until the fi­ nal whistle. This hard­

CORPORATE CHALLENGE: The business of racing.

Real Murcia celebrates their hard-fought victory in Mérida.

fought victory not only added another clean sheet to their record but also elevated them in the league standings, placing them in seventh position with 14 points, level with Ceuta in sixth.

Real Murcia’s relentless pursuit of promotion is gaining momentum, leav­ ing their fans eager for more exciting matches in the future.

Sergio shines on SERGIO BAXTER’s remarkable performance at the 2023 ProTour, organised by the Span­ ish Triathlon Federation, has been a high­ light in the Spanish triathlon scene.

Competing in Malaga, Baxter from Totana in Murcia secured a second­place finish in a highly competitive race, with only Galician athlete Antonio Serrat besting him in a thrilling showdown. The men’s podium also featured Genis Grau, Cantero, Castro, and Godoy.

This ProTour event adopted a Super Sprint format, including a 300­metre swim, an eight­kilometre bike ride, and a two­kilo­

metre run. After intense semi­finals, the top 10 from each, alongside the four fastest triathletes, advanced to the final.

Notably, Paula Sánchez, another talented Murcian athlete, participated but narrowly missed out on the women’s final, where Va­ lencian Noelia Juan emerged as the champi­ on.

In addition to the ProTour, the day fea­ tured the Paralympic Triathlon World Cup, where Susana Rodríguez, the reigning Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion, claimed the World Cup title, underlining Spain’s strength in the global triathlon arena.

Sunday run-day MURCIA came alive on the morning of October 22 as it hosted the fifth ‘Carrera de Empresas’ (Corporate Race). Organised by LA VERDAD, this event saw an im­ pressive turnout of 1,332 runners, forming 333 teams, and setting a new participation record. These teams competed fiercely to determine which company could claim the title of the fastest in both the five­kilometre and 10­kilometre categories, with separate competi­ tions for men and women.

The race began and concluded at the iconic Palacio de los Deportes de Murcia. Special recognition goes to Iberchem for having the highest number of partici­ pants. At 9.30am the participants set off. The timing was meticulously recorded using chips by Línea de Sal­ ida, and the final standings were determined by the combined times of the first three runners from each team. For the results of each race see the LA VERDAD race report.

After catching their breath at the finish line, partici­ pants enjoyed a post­race snack. For many, the day extended beyond the race, with plans to celebrate their achievements over a meal. It wasn’t just about winning; it was about coming together and having a fantastic Sunday morning with colleagues. Some even held out hope that a successful race might lead to some perks from the boss!

Group 4 round-up RACING CARTAGENA MAR MENOR hosted a tough match at La Ciu­ dad Deportiva Gómez Meseguer stadium against Cádiz Mirandil­ la, resulting in a hard­ fought 0­0 draw.

This leaves Racing Cartagena Mar Menor in the 10th position within the Segunda RFEF Group 4. Howev­ er, the team is level on points, with 12, along­ side the sixth to ninth­ placed teams.

In the same group, UCAM Murcia delivered

a spectacular perfor­ mance, securing a definitive 4­1 victory over Yeclano. Goals from Soria Blazquez, Chinchilla S, Raigal J, and Alberto Rodenas Martinez propelled UCAM Murcia to third place, positioning them favourably in the play­ off race. The Segunda RFEF Group 4 continues to be highly competi­ tive, with both Racing Cartagena Mar Menor and UCAM Murcia vy­ ing for a prominent spot in the standings.