Costa Calida 23 – 29 November 2023 Issue 2003

Costa Calida • Issue No. 2003 • 23 - 29 November 2023

FREE

ILMAINEN

GRATIS

GRATIS

GRATIS

VRIJ

FREI

GRATUITO

GRATIS G

LIVREE

FFREE

GRATIS S

G GRATUIT

CARTAGENA SHINES Community tree

elves will be causing de­ lightful chaos throughout December, building excite­ ment for Christmas.

The culminating mo­ ment arrives at 6pm when the Christmas lights will sparkle to life, illuminating the joy of the season. Join in the merriment, witness the magic, and revel in the festive spirit as the com­ munity comes together for this special occasion.

Image: Shutterstock/ Pressmaster

GET ready for an enchant­ ing evening filled with holi­ day cheer as Compusurf extends a warm invitation to children on December 1!

After school at 4.30pm, head over to Camposol Sector B to adorn the Christmas tree in a merry spectacle. Kids are encour­ aged to craft their unique decorations, adding a per­ sonal touch to the tree. But that’s not all ­ mischievous

Image: Cartagena.es

EXTRAVAGANT DISPLAY: Cartagena will sparkle with festive cheer.

CARTAGENA is eagerly an­ ticipating the holiday sea­ son with an extravagant display of Christmas deco­ rations. The Christmas lights will be switched on December 5, the town hall finally confirmed and will set the streets aglow until January 7.

The municipality’s invest­ ment of over half a million euros will embellish key ar­ eas with innovative decora­ tions and lights, including extending traditional al­ mond tree branches to new streets and introduc­ ing LED curtains and double motifs on lampposts.

Highlighting the festivi­ ties are a towering Scandi­ navian tree and a colossal interactive snowman, adding a touch of grandeur to Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Plaza Juan XIII, respec­ tively. Mayor Noelia Ar­ royo aims to keep Cartage­ na lively throughout the holiday season with an ex­ tensive programme of

events and concerts, invit­ ing both tourists and neigh­ bouring residents to par­

take in the Christmas spirit.

This festive programme showcases Cartagena as a

prime destination for cele­ brating the magic of Christ­ mas.

Celebrating the season with laughter, lights, and endless joy!

EWN

euroweeklynews.com

23 - 29 November 2023

AS anyone who has worked in theatre will tell you, it in­ volves a whole lot more than acting. The last few weeks are always especially challenging for any produc­ tion. There are so many de­ tails that need attention ­ prop­making and transport­ ing, finalising music, and sound effects, rehearsing with all the technology in place, creating costumes, timing costume changes, and that’s without men­ tioning publicity, ticket sales, programme writing, and front­of­house arrange­ ments. Having to cope with all of that may seem over­ whelming, but when you have a good team of people who enjoy working togeth­ er it makes all the prepara­ tion worthwhile, especially knowing that all our profits will go to a very good cause.

All profits this year will go

LOCAL NEWS

Panto panics Image: Adapt Theatre Group

2

Experience theatrical magic for a good cause.

to the AFEMAR association.

The Adapt Theatre group is sponsored by the Adapt Metal Detecting Club.

The Panto this year is ‘Ali Baba and the Four and ½ Thieves’ and takes place at the Casa de Cultura in San Pedro Del Pinatar on November 30, December 1, and December 2 all at 7.00pm and December 3 at

12.00 noon. Tickets priced at €4 are available from Bar Amigos San Pedro; Mail Pinatar (SEUR), Animal Ami­ gos Charity Home Shop Los Alcázares, or email Eric at: ericberg2@hotmail.com or call 656 361 098.

Sparkling Murcia Grace Meredith ON Friday, November 24, Murcia will illumi­ nate the sparkle of Christmas lights, marking a momentous occasion as the city embraces the festive spirit earlier than ever before. The city will witness the gleaming glow of an impressive 20­metre­tall tree at Plano de San Francisco and a colossal Magic King’s crown in Plaza San­ to Domingo.

In a groundbreaking move aimed at enhanc­ ing and revitalising local commerce while invit­ ing Murcians to relish the city’s charm, the Mu­ nicipal Council has advanced the holiday schedule, unveiling the dazzling holiday decor, as stated by city officials. Plaza Santo Domingo

will host the enchanting sounds of the ‘Christ­ mas Band Jazz’ on November 24, serenading Murcians and visitors alike. Meanwhile, a laser spectacle in this very square will serve as a teas­ er for the grand Christmas lighting event.

A cultural itinerary beckons both locals and tourists to wander Calle Trapería, with micro­ concerts adding musical cheer. Additionally, a classic­style carousel in Plaza Santo Domingo will be operational throughout the festive sea­ son. Mayor José Ballesta emphasised, “The Murcia City Council has meticulously curated a programme comprising over 1,000 activities to ensure this Christmas is not just special but tru­ ly unforgettable.”

Pawsome gifts

Catherine McGeer STRUGGLING to find the per­ fect gift for your loved ones this holiday season? Look no further than Hugo’s Home Farm in Murcia! This excep­ tional animal rescue service

and petting zoo offer an inno­ vative way to spread joy while supporting a noble cause.

Imagine being part of Hugo’s Home Farm’s new stable block on their fresh land! For a mini­ mum donation of £50, you can

place a personalised plaque on the stable block in your loved one’s name. Provide their de­ tails by December 15, and they’ll receive a letter notifying them of the donation made in their honour. It’s a heartfelt gesture that directly con­ tributes to supporting the ani­ mals at the farm.

But wait, there’s more! In­ stead of traditional Christmas cards, consider sending a unique video message from Benidorm’s beloved drag queen, Miss Coco Chanel. All proceeds from these excep­ tional ideas go towards the well­being and care of the ani­ mals at Hugo’s Home Farm.

LOCAL NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

23 - 29 November 2023

YOUR EWN HAS

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

NIBS EXTRA TikTok tumult OVER the weekend in Mur­ cia a woman’s TikTok obses­ sion caused her own partner to turn her in! Out until all hours of the morning record­ ing videos, the antics caused uproar in the neighbour­ hood. The police were sum­ moned to keep the peace.

Film symphony ON January 28 the best mu­ sic from all your favourite movies will be played by the Film Symphony Orchestra in the FSO in Cartagena. Music from movies like Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Mulan and more will create a night to remember. See film sym­ phony.es for information.

Learn Spanish EVERY Thursday 7.30pm to 9.30pm the Liverpool Pub in San Pedro del Pinatar hosts a Spanglish conversation group for those interested in learning or practising Spanish or English. They offer a warm invitation to all.

Festive fun ON Wednesday, December 6 at 4.30pm Astronomy Tours has arranged a special Saint Nicholas Astronomy event. It includes a bonfire, telescopes, games, an open­ air cinema and dinner. The price is €30 for an adult and €20 per child. For more infor­ mation contact 623 140 902.

Fox rescue FIREFIGHTERS from the CEIS in Murcia faced a challenging rescue mission at Los Rodeos Reservoir. A distress call to 112 reported a fox trapped and unable to ascend the steep embankment. The CEIS team successfully re­ trieved the weakened ani­ mal.

Grace Meredith FOR many Christmas can be an expensive and therefore stressful time. With the rise of inflation and the average cost of living among other things, many may feel they need to be creative to enjoy the fes­ tive season. With this in mind, the majority of restaurants and bars in Cartagena have decided not to increase the cost of their ‘Christmas Menus’, instead deciding to maintain the prices of the pre­ vious year.

The average cost therefore

Image: Shutterstock/ fornStudio

Christmas party 54 Many bars and restaurants are not changing their prices.

will be around €35 per person for a meal that includes three courses and drinks. Unfortu­ nately, around 30 per cent of the establishments feel they need to increase their prices due to the cost of raw materi­ als.

The restaurants also shared some interesting data about a change in trends as many of their clientele (71 per cent) now opt to celebrate their Christmas party at lunchtime as they prefer to enjoy ‘tardeo’ (socialise afterward throughout the evening).

Lorca connected International appeal

SIX Temporary Business Associations (UTE) are vying for the integration of the Mediterranean Corridor as it passes through the city of Lorca. This ambitious project includes a 2.9­kilometre underground tunnel and the new Lorca­Su­ tullena Train station. Valued at €400 million, the bidding process attracted half a dozen proposals from a total of 18 companies. Adif’s sources highlight that the AVE’s under­ ground routing signifies a ‘key boost’ for constructing the high­speed line in the strategic axis of the Mediterranean Corridor.

With 17 segments already underway (in contracting, exe­ cution, or completion), totalling an investment of €3.5 bil­ lion, this initiative aims to integrate the railway into Lorca, removing six level crossings, fostering new urban spaces, and establishing modern and sustainable rail connections.

Moreover, it will enhance multimodality by promoting the coexistence of long­distance journeys with local commutes and other transportation means, given the new terminal’s proximity to the city’s bus station.

This comprehensive development paves the way for en­ hanced connectivity and signifies a significant stride in Spain’s railway modernisation.

THE year 2023 has proven to be a his­ toric milestone in the Region of Murcia, marked by soaring temperatures that have surpassed records dating back to 1961. According to meteorological da­ ta, the average temperature from Jan­ uary to October has soared to 18.9ºC, surpassing the usual norms by over a degree. This unprecedented warmth signifies a concerning trend in global cli­ mate patterns. Murcia, known for its climatic stability, now faces the stark reality of climate change. The impact of rising temperatures extends beyond discomfort; it poses significant risks to agriculture, water resources, and the delicate balance of ecosystems.

Efforts to mitigate these alarming

AMIDST the dynamic shifts in Spain’s real estate land­ scape, Murcia emerges as a focal point, drawing signifi­ cant attention from foreign investors.

Despite a 7.5 per cent de­ cline in overall foreign property acquisitions, Mur­ cia experienced a notewor­ thy 24.8 per cent involve­ ment in the third quarter, showcasing a robust mar­ ket for international buy­ ers.

According to Registrar data, Murcia, alongside other key regions like the Balearic Islands (31.7 per cent) and Valencia (29.4 per cent), maintained a considerable share of for­

Record year changes must be accelerated. Adopting sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting environmen­ tally friendly policies are critical steps toward safeguarding our planet’s fu­ ture. It’s imperative for both local au­ thorities and communities to collabo­ rate on adaptation strategies and prioritise environmental consciousness to curb the escalation of these unprece­ dented temperature shifts. The year 2023 serves as an urgent reminder to take swift and collective action against the ravages of climate change.

eign property acquisitions in the third quarter, solidi­ fying its status as a hotspot for international investors.

The average price paid by the overall group of foreign­ ers stood at €2,094/m2 an increase from a year earlier.

The highest average prices per square metre were paid

by Swedish (€3,036/m2); Danish (€2,930/m2); Ameri­ cans (€2,921/m2); Swiss (€2,812/m2); Germans (€2,724/m2); and Norwe­ gians (€2,584/m2).

Buyers from Russia, France, Italy, the Nether­ lands, Belgium, and Ireland also exceeded the average price paid by the entire group of foreigners.

EWN

3

Festive fundraising IN a heartwarming dis­ play of community spir­ it, the MABS Cancer Support Foundation or­ ganised a wonderful Christmas Fayre at Mario’s in Sucina, rais­ ing an impressive €1,060 for their noble cause.

The event was packed with stalls brim­ ming with festive de­ lights ­ ranging from Christmas decorations to twinkling lights and elegant party clothes.

The resounding suc­ cess of the Fayre owes much to the unwaver­ ing support of locals and the community, who generously contributed to the funds. MABS Cancer Support Founda­ tion continues its philan­ thropic endeavours and eagerly invites all to their upcoming Christ­ mas Ball on December 16, hosted once again at Mario’s in Sucina.

This event promises an enchanting evening, commencing at 7pm, offering a delectable three­course meal, cap­ tivating entertainment, and select beverages for a mere €30. Secure your tickets promptly from the MABS shop in San Javier or via WhatsApp at 633 467 108.

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

23 - 29 November 2023

THE impending eviction of over 200 long­term ten­ ants from the El Portús na­ turist camping site has sparked a legal battle as residents refuse to vacate their homes. The campers, facing eviction due to the expiry of their temporary stay contracts, are deter­ mined to seek justice and compensation for what they perceive as an in­ fringement upon their rights and dignity.

Receiving notice on November 9, the manage­ ment informed residents that their ‘temporary stay contracts’ would termi­ nate from January 1, 2024, for most. Most homes,

Eviction battle Image: Facebook/ Camping Naturista el Portús

4

EL PORTÚS: Residents fight for homes and way of life.

prefabricated or perma­ nent, pose relocation diffi­ culties. The notice man­

dates eviction, compelling them to clear their lots be­ fore the deadline.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

This proverb, that encourages a positive attitude in the face of adversity, is a paraphrase of a 1909 quote by the Christian anarchist writer, Elbert Hubbard: “A genius is a man who takes the lemons that Fate hands him and starts a lemonade-stand with them.”

Collin and Margaret Stewart, residing in El Portús for 34 years, are de­ termined to resist eviction.

Residents highlight their decades­long peaceful co­ habitation, purchasing, in­ heriting, and enjoying homes while abiding by laws and taxes. With pos­ sessions they can’t easily relocate, they’re pleading for compensation for their losses. Elderly tenants like Rose Marie, 85, who’s resided there since 1987, face imminent displace­ ment. The affected resi­ dents, deeply rooted in El Portús, refuse to relinquish their homes without a fight, advocating for fair­ ness and compensation as they brace for an uncer­ tain future.

LOCAL NEWS

Festive harmonies

Image: Pilarmonics

Pilarmonics Chorus spreading holiday cheer.

Catherine McGeer PILARMONICS Chorus is get­ ting into the Festive Spirit as members begin their Christ­ mas appearances around Murcia and the Costa Calida where they will be singing their collection of seasonal songs in English, Spanish, and German.

On November 25 at 2pm you will find them at Urb. Lo Santiago where they will be entertaining the shoppers at New York’s Christmas Fayre.

Later in the evening, you will find them singing outside the church of San Jose in Roldan.

Pilarmonics was both ex­ tremely touched and hon­ oured to have been invited to sing following the celebration of two masses, the first at 7pm, and the second at 7.45pm.

Both of these masses are being held in remembrance of the 52 females in the region who have been killed in violent attacks, including those of a domestic nature.

On November 26 at 7pm catch them at The Ashes, Mar Menor Boulevard, Torre Pacheco where everyone will be stepping into Christmas when their Christmas lights are officially switched on.

The festive fun continues on November 29 when the Pilar­ monics will be joining Jesus, Lu­ cinda, and Nikki at the annual ‘Turning on the Christmas Lights’ ceremony at Spanglish in Balsicas. For more festive harmonies stay tuned as more events will be announced.

1 in 400 trill.

The chance of being born, considering the combination of factors that lead to a unique individual.

6

EWN

euroweeklynews.com

23 - 29 November 2023

LOCAL NEWS

Humanists of Murcia THROUGHOUT November in Murcia, a mix of engaging activities and heartfelt tributes graced the community calendar of the Humanists of Murcia. Jim set the pace with a guided walk to­ wards Casas de Dominguez, the abandoned mining village, followed by lunch at La Bien Querida in El Alamillo.

On November 12, a gathering near the Jacaranda Tree marked Remembrance Sunday, honouring sacrifices made in conflicts. Martin Rushton, the founder of the group here in Mur­ cia, and Diane Morriss both passed away earlier this year and received special remembrance with poems read and a wreath of poppies.

In contrast, November 7 brought a vivid excur­ sion for garden enthusiasts to Alicante’s Archae­ ological Museum to behold the Terracotta Sol­ FRANCISCO GALERA FERRI, a 29­year­old with Down syn­ drome from Molina de Segu­ ra, Murcia, has become the country’s first official diver with this condition. With eight dives in Cabo de Palos, he dreams of exploring Mexi­ co’s waters.

Supported by his parents, Francisco’s journey began at a young age in a municipal pool, developing his passion for swimming and later div­

Images: Humanists of Murcia

Commemoration, exploration and community togetherness.

diers exhibition. Looking ahead, the Humanists of Murcia and Darwinian Gardeners warmly in­ vite participation in upcoming events, offering various activities like walks, gardening, games, and shared meals. The next event will be a coach trip to visit a bodega in January. Call 603 205 649 or email: humanistsofmurcia@gmail.com.

Breaking barriers

ing. On December 3, 2022, he was baptised as a diver at the Ibuzeo club in Molina, a mo­ ment of immense joy for him.

His determination led to him becoming a certified div­ er after eight months of rig­ orous training. Despite initial

concerns from his parents during his dives, Francisco’s enthusiasm erased their wor­ ries. He works as a hospital orderly and was also a cham­ pion in horse dressage. His parents, believing in his au­ tonomy, stood by him, now witnessing his achievements with immense pride. Francis­ co’s inspiring journey show­ cases determination, break­ ing barriers, and achieving dreams against all odds.

LOCAL NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

23 - 29 November 2023

Flood defence

Catherine McGeer A CANAL and a floodable park have been approved to prevent floods in Los Alcazares. The Ministry of Environment, Universi­ ties, Research, and Mar Menor has given the green light to planned ac­ tions for the construction of urban canalisation and a water reserve.

These projects aim to reduce the impact of floods in the urban area of Los Alcazares.

The project, developed in two phases, spans from

the AP­7 highway to the mouth of the Pescadería ravine at the Mar Menor, along Fernando Muñoz Zambudio Avenue.

Upon reviewing docu­ mentation, the Regional Government ensures that the proposed actions align with the Compre­ hensive Management Plan for the Mar Menor’s protected spaces, incor­ porating measures like green filters at ravine mouths.

The first phase involves constructing a canal to

MAYOR José Ballesta unveils Murcia’s urban mobility magic just in time for the holidays! From December 1 to January 7, all public transit in Murcia is on the house, making exploring the city’s vi­ brant Christmas markets, dazzling lights, and bustling events will be hassle­free.

Municipal sources anticipate a 20 per cent to 50 per cent increase in bus and tram usage during the holiday period.

This decision, set to alleviate the city’s traffic stress that often doubles this

manage runoff from the Pescadería ravine and re­ claiming the urban chan­ nel to reduce flood risks.

The second phase in­ cludes creating a 29­ hectare water reserve to retain and manage runoff before directing it to the planned channel. The wa­ ter reserve will also un­ dergo environmental restoration through vege­ tation implantation and serve as a leisure and recreational area. Both phases have an initial budget of €27.7 million.

Free buses time of year, it also serves as a trial run for next year’s transportation model.

The initiative also includes free bicy­ cles, improved bus routes, and electric buses.

Notably, the city will trial on­demand transportation from suburbs to down­ town, and incorporate Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines.

EWN

7

NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

23 - 29 November 2023

THE President of the Murcia Region, Fernando López Miras, unveiled the modernisation of the irrigation system of Librilla’s Irrigation Communi­ ty, investing a total of €7 million. This project op­ timises water usage across 596 hectares, pre­ dominantly cultivating lemons, benefiting over 1,000 community members. López Miras em­ phasised, “We support over 1,000 families who work tirelessly to maintain our status as Europe’s orchard, despite external challenges.”

These advancements significantly reduce wa­ ter loss during distribution, incorporating drip irri­ gation and enabling remote control through mo­ bile phones. López Miras highlighted, “In Murcia, we value and maximise every drop of water.”

This strategic investment, focusing on utilising water from the Tajo­Segura transfer, solidifies IN the hustle and bustle lead­ ing up to Christmas, Age Con­ cern is gearing up for a series of exciting events, and everyone is invited to join in on the fes­ tive cheer. To secure tickets for these upcoming events, visit the Social Centre on Avenida de Los Covachos, Camposol C Sector, Monday to Friday, be­ tween 10am and 1pm. Alter­ natively, they can reach out to Age Concern by phone 634

Image: carm.es

Water solutions Embracing innovation for sustainable water management.

Murcia’s position as a national and international benchmark for water efficiency. López Miras stressed, “Our region’s agricultural innovation, backed by €20 million invested over the past 15 years, exemplifies our commitment to mod­ ernise irrigation infrastructure.”

Age Concern 317 537 or email ageconcern costacalida@gmail.com, or simply drop a message on their Facebook page ­ Age Con­ cern Costa Calida.

For those in the Port, tickets are available Saturday morn­ ings 11 to 1 at Nico’s Bar, next to the Market Tavern, thanks

to Pat. With a lineup featuring Market Day in Benidorm Coach trip, the Great Christ­ mas Cupcake Bake­off at the Christmas Fayre, Winter Fayre, Christmas Carols with mulled wine and mince pies, the Jingle Bell ball, Christmas lunch, and the New Year’s swim day.

EWN

9

10 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023

Toy drive Image: Shutterstock/ fizkes

AS the holiday season ap­ proaches, Los Alcazares is once again embracing the spirit of compassion and community with the revival of its cherished campaign, No Child Without a Toy. This heartwarming initia­ tive aims to ensure that ev­ ery child in the municipality experiences the magic of Christmas. The town is wel­ coming donations from now until December 15.

Locals can drop off toys at several designated loca­ tions, making it convenient for everyone to participate in spreading joy: Los Al­ cázares Town Hall: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 2.00pm CISSMU: Monday to Friday,

euroweeklynews.com

Bringing smiles, one toy at a time.

THE Las Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar Visitor Centre underwent a comprehensive renovation, investing €955,212 ­ 80 per cent funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the rest from regional funds.

This upgrade aimed to enhance accessibility, sustainability, and visitor experience, introducing two new scenic viewpoints and ensuring access for individuals with disabilities. Minister Juan María Vázquez highlighted the Centre’s signifi­ cance, attracting over 500,000 annual visitors and serving as an environmental information hub. The refurbishment included creating scenic

9.00am to 2.00pm, Espacio Joven La Torre: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 5.00pm to 7.00pm This project hinges on the generosity of the communi­ ty. Each donated toy, whether a cherished doll, a thrilling game, or a cuddly companion, holds the po­ tential to brighten a child’s holiday and create enduring memories. Let’s unite in the spirit of giving and make this festive season an unforget­ table one for every child.

Revamped centre viewpoints, a discovery room for the Mar Menor, and integrating energy­efficient mea­ sures like solar panels and electric vehicle charg­ ing stations to combat climate change.

Furthermore, the Centre’s improved access, new parking and rehabilitation of outdoor spaces align with the goal of attracting more visi­ tors, which has steadily increased over the past five years. Plans to create a welcoming space at the park entrance, doubling as a bird observation point, signify ongoing environmental efforts.

FEATURE/NEWS

Advertising Feature

Lower prices 9 O U T 10 C U S T O M E R S R E C O M MEND US In a recent survey of our customers after using Línea Directa’s Roadside Assistance and breakdown services, over 90 per cent said they would happily recommend our insurance services to a friend or colleague.

Línea Directa would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to answer the questions in our survey as it has given us valuable feedback on our services and enabled us to integrate positive changes and continue to provide expert solutions for overseas residents in Spain.

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS IN ENGLISH Car, bike and home insurance, with absolutely everything in English. The emergency and claims hotline is fast and efficient, with quick no obligation quotes over the phone. The customer service team will help you decide on the best policy and there are easy payment options so you can spread the cost of your premiums.

DID YOU KNOW? All Línea Directa insurance policies offer additional features specifically designed for expatriates living in Spain.

Their home insurance includes Pet Assistance, I T Assistance, and Home Maintenance. All motorbike policies come with Replacement Motorbike, Technical Equipment cover and even Young Person’s Night-time Assis-

tance. And their car insurance includes helpful services such as Legal Assistance that can provide help when applying for or renewing your driving licence in Spain.

E X P AT2E X P AT REWARD PROGRAMME When an existing Línea Directa customer recommends a new customer, they both receive €30. Línea Directa’s Expat2Expat p r o gramme is free and open to all existing customers.

You can recommend up to 10 people and earn up to €300 in cash per year.

Simply ask your friend to call 917 002 006 and quote your full name. Then once their application for car, bike or home insurance has been approved, Línea Directa will pay the reward straight into the bank account following payment of next or first premium.

For more information, see terms and conditions at lineadirec ta.com LOW E R T H E P R I C E O F Y O U R I N SURANCE Change to Línea Directa and they will lower the price of your insurance.

Línea Directa has been providing comprehensive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 25 years.

With over three million customers nationwide, Línea Directa makes sure you get the best possible price for the kind of insurance you really need.

Call their English-speaking customer service staff on 952 147 834 or get a competitive quote now at lineadirecta.com

BEST PRICE. BETTER COVER.

FINANCE THE Avon cosmetics company announced that it would open shops in the UK for the first time in 137 years. The compa­ ny had to change its selling strategy, Avon’s chief execu­ tive Angela Cretu said, now that there are fewer stay­at­ home wives and mothers, with most women working outside the home.

Going down FOR the first time in 18 months, Spain’s year­on­year food inflation dropped below 10 per cent in October to 9.5 per cent although olive oil rose by 74 per cent. Lower prices helped the Consumer Price In­ dex to remain at 3.5 per cent, unchanged from September’s figure, Spain’s National Statis­ tics Institute (INI) said.

Don’t do it PURCHASE scams are responsi­ ble for the majority of banking sector fraud cases, said online bank Monzo. “Unless you pick up the goods at the same time, don’t even think about it if a seller on Facebook Market­ place or a similar website in­ sists on a bank transfer, how­ ever plausible it sounds,” Monzo said.

Not so good BETWEEN April 1 and Septem­ ber 30, Vodafone España’s rev­ enue fell 1.8 per cent to €1.93 billion, owing to lower earn­ ings for service­providing which fell 2.8 per cent to €1.7 billion. Pre­tax profits for the company, which was recently acquired by Zegona, dropped 11.16 per cent to €394 million.

Cold comfort ICELAND FOODS paid an ‘un­ precedented’ £94 million (€107.6 million) increase in en­ ergy last year, as Russia’s inva­ sion of Ukraine affected prof­ its. As a result, the company’s adjusted earnings before inter­ est, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for the year end­ ing March fell by 17 per cent to £105.8 million (€121 million).

STAT OF WEEK

paid by Inditex founder Amancio Ortega’s investment company Pontegadea for the purchase of a 49 per cent stake in Repsol’s Spanish windfarms and solar power plants.

€490 million

UK inflation satisfaction Linda Hall THE UK’s annual inflation rate for October dropped from September’s 6.7 per cent to 4.6 per cent.

Cheaper gas and elec­ tricity were responsible for the biggest fall in more than three decades, sur­ passing the 4.8 per cent figure that had been pre­ dicted by a poll of economists carried out for Reuters.

The announcement of the October figures also prompted an immediate 1.1 per cent surge in the FTSE 100 stock index. Al­ though the encouraging inflation figures did not in­ dicate that prices fell in Oc­

Photo credit: Rishi Sunak

Ding-dong gone

euroweeklynews.com • 23 - 29 November 2023

RISHI SUNAK: Prime Minister delivered on inflation pledge.

tober, it meant they rose more slowly than forecast, boosting hopes that the Bank of England could cut the interest rate next year.

Core inflation, which ex­ cludes energy and food amongst other volatile el­ ements, also fell more

Linda Hall GERMANY’S government announced a €15 billion rescue package including €7.5 billion in state guarantees for wind­ farm manufacturer Siemens Energy.

The company employs around 26,000 people inside the country and al­ though the ailing company has €110 bil­ lion in orders it needs help to sustain them.

The move also affects Spain as Siemens Energy’s subsidiary, Siemens Gamesa, is one of the world’s leading wind turbine makers. Headquartered in Zamudia (Vizcaya), the company has nine factories that provide jobs for 4,600 people.

than analysts expected but still remained high at 5.7 per cent after slipping from 6.1 per cent, short of the 5.8 per cent predicted by the Bank of England and the City.

Food price inflation is now at its lowest since

2021 following last month’s fall to 10.1 per cent in the annual increase rate. This was down from 12.2 per cent in Septem­ ber and last March’s high of 19.2 per cent, the high­ est annual rate in more than 45 years, the Office for National Statistics re­ vealed.

“In January I made halv­ ing inflation this year my top priority,” Sunak said on November 15.

“I did that because it is, without a doubt, the best way to ease the cost of liv­ ing and give families finan­ cial security. Today, we have delivered on that pledge.”

The subsidiary, which has large oper­ ations in Denmark as well as Spain, has had major problems with some of the

turbines it supplies, involving failures in the enormous blades that have led to high repair costs.

Siemens Gamesa has also been ham­ pered by deals agreed in the past at prices that were subsequently affected by galloping inflation.

Siemens Energy took over Gamesa in December last year after acquiring the remaining third of the company’s shares which it did not already control.

Spain’s Industry, Commerce and Tourism ministry announced on November 14 that the government was also working on a possible series of guarantees for new international con­ tracts.

Pfizer loses its fizz

Of great interest

Down the drain

PFIZER intends to cut 500 jobs at its Sandwich (Kent) laboratories to reduce costs by £2.8 billion (€3.2 billion).

As demand falls for its Covid drugs, the US pharmaceutical gi­ ant plans to cease its Pharmaceuti­ cal Sciences Small Molecule (PSSM) operations where re­ searchers turn experimental molecules into medicines for clini­ cal trials.

Pfizer said the decision to halt PSSM work at Sandwich followed discouraging sales of Covid treat­ ments, with the company now ex­ pecting full­year revenues of be­ tween $58 billion (€53.47 billion) and $61 billion (€57.7 billion). It previously predicted of revenues of between $67 billion (€63.26 bil­ lion) and $70 billion (€65.5 billion).

WITH interest rates in the UK at their highest in 15 years, people are increas­ ingly anxious to learn about potential changes. Figures released by analysts at L&C Mortgages revealed that Google searches asking, “When will interest rates change?” have now reached a 58,000 monthly average.

“Ultimately, there is no way of know­ ing when interest rates will fall or change,” L&C Mortgages said.

“Usually, rates change every six weeks. However, the Bank of England has kept the rate at 5.25 per cent for a second month. This is done to tackle re­ cent high inflation figures, a significant problem in the UK. “Rates could increase by a further 0.25 per cent or 0.50 per cent, potentially peaking at 5.75 per cent and then falling over the next five years as inflation eas­ es.”

ROCA lost almost €120 million following the February 2022 Ukraine invasion.

Although Russia accounted for 7 per cent of Roca’s total revenues, with a 2021 turnover of €141 million and profits of €19.5 million, it was one of the first companies to leave, selling up to its four Russian sub­ sidiaries in June 2022 for €169.3 million.

In late 2022 these were val­ ued at €154.1 million, bringing €12.5 million in capital gains al­ though this was swallowed up by the depreciation of the rou­ ble against the euro, resulting in losses of €84.3 million which, added to a further €35.5 mil­ lion in impairments, finally cost Roca €119.9 million.

Rescue for Siemens Photo credit: Siemens-Gamesa

BUSINESS EXTRA

12

SIEMENS GAMESA: Manufactures wind turbine blades.

Royal Mail fail COMMUNICATIONS watchdog Ofcom has fined Royal Mail for not achieving first and second­ class delivery targets over the last financial year.

The UK’s postal service, now owned by International Distribu­ tion Services, must pay £5.6 mil­ lion (€6.4 million) for failing to meet goals.

Royal Mail should complete 99.9 per cent of daily delivery routes on the required day, but last year delivered only 73.7 per cent of first­class mail and 90.7 per cent of second­class mail on time.

Complaints of late and irregular deliveries continued to grow and Ofcom suggested that the service had not yet recovered from inter­ ruptions during the pandemic.

Shares rise TELEFONICA BRASIL accounts for 56 per cent of parent compa­ ny Telefonica’s capitalisation.

Shares are now worth 50.6 reales (€9.45), up 32 per cent since the beginning of the year, compared with Telefonica’s 10 per cent. That gives the sub­ sidiary a total worth of 84 billion reales (approximately €16 bil­ lion).

When added to Telefonica Deutschland’s €5 billion, this means that between them the two subsidiaries account for practically 80 per cent of Tele­ fonica’s capital. In contrast, Spain, the UK (Virgin Media 02) and Latin America’s Hispam contribute just 20 per cent.

Parents’ help HELPFUL over­50s in the UK have handed £98 billion (€112.4 billion) to their chil­ dren over the last five years.

A study carried out for the SunLife financial services company found that parents had spent £36.5 billion (€41.8 billion) on helping off­ spring to buy a property, while giving £2 billion (€2.3 billion towards paying basic household bills.

Other contributions were for school fees or to buy a car, although in some cases parents said that they gave money to their children “be­ cause they could afford to.”

FINANCE

14 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

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

CLOSING PRICES 20 NOVEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

3I Group

2.158,00

-12,00

-0,55%

129,77K

Abrdn

171,65

-0,55

-0,32%

573,35K

Admiral Group

2.621,0

+22,0

+0,85%

Anglo American

2.237,5

+3,5

+0,16%

Antofagasta

1.394,00

+15,00

+1,09%

159,48K

Ashtead Group

4.615,0

-629,0

-11,99%

Associated British Foods

2.346,0

-34,0

AstraZeneca

10.096,0

-164,0

NET VOL

InterContinental

6.122,0

+26,0

+0,43%

31,16K

Intermediate Capital

1.516,00

+8,00

+0,53%

289,20K

53,35K

Intertek

3.827,0

+18,0

+0,47%

32,86K

271,41K

ITV

61,74

-0,18

-0,29%

764,79K

J Sainsbury

266,90

+0,70

+0,26%

414,48K

1,21M

Johnson Matthey

1.518,0

-6,0

-0,39%

128,86K

-1,43%

189,19K

Land Securities

654,40

+1,20

+0,18%

143,23K

-1,60%

225,58K

Legal & General

230,80

+1,00

+0,44%

1,75M

43,17

-0,20

-0,46%

13,32M

8.584,0

+34,0

+0,40%

80,89K

1.14245

0.87615

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0926 Japan yen (JPY)........................................162.05 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9652 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4558 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.737

Auto Trader Group Plc

710,60

+3,80

+0,54%

265,96K

Lloyds Banking

Aviva

421,90

-0,40

-0,10%

774,06K

London Stock Exchange

B&M European Value Retail SA538,20

+0,80

+0,15%

86,88K

Melrose Industries

522,92

+1,00

+0,19%

475,66K

currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830

BAE Systems

1.064,00

+9,00

+0,85%

2,85M

Mondi

1.394,00

+3,00

+0,22%

189,07K

THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

Barclays

142,44

-0,36

-0,25%

4,85M

National Grid

1.024,50

+8,50

+0,84%

937,53K

Barratt Developments

486,10

+2,10

+0,43%

267,20K

NatWest Group

207,90

+0,10

+0,05%

2,03M

7.740,0

+26,0

+0,34%

28,59K

+30,40

+5,42%

749,46K

Berkeley

4.537,0

+16,0

+0,35%

9,21K

Next

BHP Group Ltd

2.462,50

+20,50

+0,84%

81,08K

Ocado

591,75

BP

479,85

+2,15

+0,45%

4,09M

Persimmon

1.241,0

-2,0

-0,16%

72,75K

278,36K

Phoenix

491,20

+0,70

+0,14%

245,64K

Prudential

937,06

-8,00

-0,85%

360,77K

British American Tobacco 2.533,5

+12,0

+0,48%

British Land Company

368,17

+1,00

+0,27%

514,57K

BT Group

119,44

+0,55

+0,46%

1,63M

Bunzl Burberry Group Carnival

2.934,0 1.600,5 1.044,5

-11,0 +36,0 -5,5

-0,37% +2,30% -0,52%

55,22K 169,03K 58,42K

Centrica

151,90

+0,20

+0,13%

1,78M

Coca Cola HBC AG

2.108,0

-9,0

-0,42%

42,22K

Compass

2.003,00

-89,00

-4,25%

1,25M

CRH

4.802,0

-18,0

-0,37%

107,00K

Croda Intl

4.590,0

-8,0

-0,17%

55,48K

DCC

5.284,0

-64,0

-1,20%

18,35K

Diageo

2.830,5

+21,0

+0,75%

338,11K

DS Smith

288,33

+0,30

+0,10%

289,47K

EasyJet

434,90

-0,80

-0,18%

430,61K

Experian

2.951,0

+18,0

+0,61%

163,90K

Ferguson

13.225,0

-145,0

-1,08%

13,76K

Flutter Entertainment

12.845,0

+150,0

+1,18%

43,85K

Fresnillo

548,40

+4,00

+0,73%

88,84K

Glencore

462,73

-5,00

-1,07%

5,57M

GSK plc

1.408,48

-2,40

-0,17%

467,83K

Halma

2.097,0

+44,0

+2,14%

117,22K

Reckitt Benckiser

5.402,8

+6,0

+0,11%

134,54K

Relx

2.989,00

+5,00

+0,17%

391,45K

Rentokil

469,00

+5,30

+1,14%

330,65K

Rightmove

502,80

-0,40

-0,08%

347,24K

Rio Tinto PLC

5.460,0

+14,0

+0,26%

306,61K

Rolls-Royce Holdings

246,11

+2,10

+0,86%

3,50M

Sage

984,20

-0,20

-0,02%

237,23K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.402,00

+16,00

+1,15%

2,16K

Schroders

404,4

-2,7

-0,66%

110,86K

Scottish Mortgage

718,60

+4,20

+0,59%

440,48K

Segro

827,15

+4,60

+0,56%

171,99K

Severn Trent

2.699,0

+2,0

+0,07%

36,97K

Shell

2.629,5

+21,0

+0,81%

881,12K

Smith & Nephew

1.023,50

-1,00

-0,10%

128,93K

Smiths Group

1.652,18

-0,50

-0,03%

29,62K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 9.166,0

+226,0

+2,53%

22,23K

SSE

1.802,87

+7,50

+0,42%

203,19K

St. James’s Place

682,00

-5,40

-0,79%

223,16K

Standard Chartered

664,80

+4,80

+0,73%

912,89K

Taylor Wimpey

126,17

+0,50

+0,40%

1,50M

Tesco

276,30

+0,30

+0,11%

982,26K

Tui

514,50

+13,40

+2,68%

227,64K

Unilever

3.820,5

+4,5

+0,12%

500,07K

1.089,00

+5,00

+0,46%

138,62K

Hargreaves Lansdown

720,40

-5,40

-0,74%

173,97K

Hikma Pharma

1.762,00

+2,50

+0,14%

43,18K

HSBC

614,95

-0,30

-0,05%

3,60M

United Utilities

IAG

163,55

+0,85

+0,52%

2,47M

Vodafone Group PLC

75,01

-0,04

-0,05%

5,84M

Imperial Brands

1.845,00

-7,00

-0,38%

200,23K

Whitbread

3.345,0

+3,0

+0,09%

29,59K

Informa

752,00

+3,00

+0,40%

240,02K

WPP

708,20

-4,80

-0,67%

184,43K

DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 20 NOVEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE

CHANGE% VOLUME(M)

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

95,34 162,56 265,39 189,69 208,04 253,07 144,46 47,76 57,26 51,70 339,19 307,27 191,21 152,89 43,81 149,79 152,82 275,75 101,75 369,85 105,96 151,07 221,22 171,82 536,29 36,23 249,56 21,22 155,35 94,15

-0,37 +3,51 -3,61 -0,02 +1,44 +4,86 +2,69 -0,29 +0,11 +0,26 +2,52 +0,83 +0,50 -0,17 +0,46 -0,31 +1,37 -0,37 -0,24 -6,32 -1,65 -1,76 -0,23 +0,13 -3,53 +0,05 +0,99 +0,47 -0,69 -0,36

-0,39% 2,54M +2,21% 2,97M -1,34% 2,62M -0,01% 49,41M +0,70% 3,53M +1,96% 2,78M +1,90% 10,85M -0,59% 32,57M +0,19% 14,36M +0,51% 3,29M +0,75% 1,38M +0,27% 2,62M +0,26% 2,16M -0,11% 4,42M +1,06% 49,60M -0,21% 6,76M +0,90% 7,68M -0,13% 2,59M -0,24% 6,76M -1,68% 39,45M -1,53% 6,06M -1,15% 8,43M -0,10% 3,60M +0,08% 857,89K -0,65% 2,66M +0,14% 19,09M +0,40% 7,23M +2,27% 11,91M -0,44% 14,09M -0,38% 12,16M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 20 NOVEMBER

COMPANY Most Advanced The Gap, Inc. CRISPR Therapeutics AG Structure Therapeutics Inc. Globant S.A. Sigma Lithium Corporation Beam Therapeutics Inc. Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. Fastly, Inc. Tenet Healthcare Corporation Venture Corporation Limited Qifu Technology, Inc.

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+30.58% +14.64% +12.14% +11.85% +11.56% +10.81% +10.67% +10.58% +9.63% +9.03% +8.91%

69.085M 6.546M 1.06M 1.244M 2.107M 2.617M 8.646M 3.445M 4.097M 22,500 1.314M

-11.81% -7.06% -6.74% -6.20% -5.91% -5.78% -4.81% -4.67% -4.58% -4.02% -3.99%

3.211M 1.699M 774,753 9.197M 3.316M 5.564M 5.254M 40,739 828,100 18.92M 30,331

Most Declined Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Haemonetics Corporation ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. VinFast Auto Ltd. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. Vodacom Group Limited Banco do Brasil S.A. Applied Materials, Inc. Prosus N.V.

‘

euroweeklynews.com

BUSINESS EXTRA Train gain THE value of Talgo shares shot up to €4.53 on November 16 after a Hun­ garian business group made a preliminary public offer to acquire all of the Spanish train manufactur­ er’s shares. The group, which Talgo declined to name, would pay €5 per share, a 28 per cent pre­ mium on the November 15 closing price.

On spec UK shoppers sent back more than £4.1 billion (€4.68 billion) of clothing bought online last year, said GlobalData, predict­ ing a 16.7 per cent in­ crease before 2027. Or­ dering several items and returning some after mak­ ing a choice has risen 46 per cent compared with 33 per cent in 2021, ac­ cording to returns logistics company ZigZag.

23 - 29 November 2023

More woes for Britishvolt Linda Hall RECHARGE INDUSTRIES, Britishvolt’s new owner, could face legal proceedings over an ex­employee’s unpaid wages.

According to the Financial Times (FT), the Australian com­ pany, which acquired British­ volt last January, was served with a statutory demand to pay the wages. If Recharge In­ dustries does not settle within three weeks, the former em­ ployee can take further legal action and launch bankruptcy proceedings against the com­ pany, the FT said.

Photo credit: British Volt

FINANCE

BRITISHVOLT: Taken over by Recharge Industries in February.

Making headway LOW­COST telecoms firm Digi out­ stripped its rivals during the first nine months of 2023.

Turnover for Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone and MasMovil grew slowly or languished, while the Romania­head­ quartered company reported a record €466 million.

This was 30.5 per cent more than dur­ ing the same period last year and in line with the €166 million recorded in this

year’s third quarter, 29.9 per cent up on 2022.

Uncomplicated cheap offers, no ‘small print’ and personalised attention for clients, a service that other opera­ tors generally outsource, are key to Di­ gi’s success, analysts said.

Meanwhile, the company is waiting to learn if it will be chosen to acquire assets sold off within the framework of the Orange­Masmovil merger.

Staff members had not been paid for months, another employee said.

Britishvolt, now headed by Australian businessman David Collard, was founded four years ago and planned a £3.8 billion (€4.35 billion) gigafacto­ ry in Blyth (Northumberland) to supply batteries for UK­built electric vehicles.

The company could have counted on £100 million (€114.5 million) in conditional funding from the UK govern­ ment but went into adminis­ tration after running out of cash. Most of its 300 staff were made redundant.

Recharge Industries bought Britishvolt for £8.6 (€9.8m) in February, making an initial payment of £6.1m (€6.98m).

In August, Britishvolt’s ad­ ministrators EY announced the final payment was ‘unpaid and overdue’, with Recharge In­ dustries in default of the busi­ ness sale agreement.

Scale Facilitation, the New York­based parent company of Recharge Industries, denied defaulting on the deal.

EWN 15

Sweet treat US­BASED confectionery com­ pany Mars is buying Hotel Chocolat in a £534 million (€609.5 million) agreement that will help the UK chocolati­ er expand internationally, both companies said. Mars, which paid 375p (€42.80) per share on November 16, 170 per cent more than the previous night’s 139p (€15.87) closing price, said the deal brought “a much­ loved brand into its portfolio.”

New era UNICAJA shareholders ratified a new board of directors and the appointment of Isidro Ru­ biales as new chief executive at an extraordinary general meeting in Malaga on November 14. Their approval completed the renovation of Unicaja’s board following the 2021 Liberbank merger and brought to an end former dis­ agreements on both sides that resulted in a wave of res­ ignations.

16 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

Being gaslighted LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT THIS week’s blurb has been partially drawn from the input provided by a member of my ever welcome band of faithful contributors to whom I shall be eternally grateful. It is for those of us consistently bamboozled by the pure guff put out by some of our main media outlets; those large numbers of reports that we know have almost no resem­ blance to actual events.

Have no fear, you are not going crazy ­ you are being ‘Gaslighted’! Gaslighting is a form of brainwashing, aimed at con­ trolling people by altering reality to a point where those targeted begin to doubt their own sanity. The term comes from a 1930s play, where the main char­ acter drives his wife insane by slowly dimming the gas powered lights. When she notices the lights are dimming, he not only denies it, but convinces her it is her imagination to a point where she questions her own sanity.

We are constantly being told by the media of situations which are at com­ plete odds with what we are seeing with our own eyes. We witness disruption and rioting and are told it is peaceful protesting, We see murderers running amok, chanting their beliefs while killing innocent people and are advised they are not terrorist related. We are in­ formed that integration and diversity is working, yet perceive whole areas being taken over by foreign cultures.

We observe neighbourhoods of our cities being terrorised by ethnic teenage gangs and are advised that it is the fault of the police. You spend your life trying to treat all individuals as equals and ab­ hor racism, but are accused of being a privileged racist purely because of the colour of your skin. You know you are not and that the accusation in itself is racist, but when you try to defend your­ self, it is declared that your defence is proof of your racism.

You are told you live in an environ­ ment of true freedom of speech, yet when you speak out you are accused of bigotry and discrimination. Worry not.

You are not losing your minds. Crazy

people don’t question their sanity.

These media perpetrators deal in lies and psychological coercion. What their ultimate aims are is utterly beyond my comprehension. What I do know how­ ever is that we have to believe the evi­ dence of our own eyes. Trust your own observations; believe what you perceive as the truth. You’re not crazy. You’re be­ ing Gaslighted.

Good luck everyone! Many thanks to the readers who have written to express their concerns over the onslaught of laws and regulations regarding the idiot­ ic introduction of electric cars. Facts show, that although the local woke brigade will be preening over the reduc­ tion of carbon monoxide being pro­ duced by the UK , the actual production of many electric vehicle components, particularly the batteries, will cause oth­ er countries carbon emissions to rise (and profit) dramatically.

I dunno, just what are this woke brigade actually up to? The gas lit mind truly does boggle.

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

Lion escapes

By Kevin Fraser Park “HELP, a lion has escaped from the circus.” It sounded like a joke, one of those in bad taste that run on social media. But no, a lion had re­ ally escaped from the circus and was calmly strolling through the streets of Ladis­ poli near Rome. And for a whole day, he had the po­ lice, circus organisers, zoo guards, volunteers, the fire brigade, even a police heli­ copter involved in his recap­ ture.

The mayor warned: “Don’t leave home. Please pay the utmost attention and avoid going out until further notice.” The es­ capee was reported around 3pm on Saturday Novem­ ber 11 by the Rony Roller Circus.

Unsuccessful searches took place in the afternoon, before darkness fell. A heli­ copter, using infrared de­ vices, managed to locate the animal in a reed bed near the railway and

Photos: Facebook / Shutterstock

Lion strolled the streets.

around 8pm the lion was shot with a sedative from a rifle, but it seemed to not take effect and the animal once more fled. It was final­ ly tracked down at 10pm after seven hours on the loose.

Meanwhile, controversy broke out. “The episode,” wrote the International Or­ ganisation for the Protec­ tion of Animals, “highlights the danger of circuses with animals from the point of view of public safety and above all the discomfort of the animals.” The organisa­ tion added, “We hope to see the introduction of a law to ban the use of ani­ mals in circus shows.”

FEATURE

euroweeklynews.com INTERVIEW

“Spain is a land of opportunity” AS part of our ongoing conversations with Europeans who have chosen to settle in Spain, it is the turn of Swedish national Niklas Söderström who moved to the Costa del Sol in 2014.

UP until then, he had run a building company in Sweden, but was effectively head hunted by a real estate company based on the Golden Mile in Marbella.

It took Niklas a full seven days to decide to accept the offer and having landed in Spain nine years ago, he literally hasn’t looked back.

“I love it here as compared to Sweden not only is the weather and lifestyle so much better, it really has been for me, a land of opportunity,” he explained.

Adding “Apart of course from family there is really very little that I miss about Sweden and I have made my life here and I am enjoying it.”

Now very competent in Spanish, Niklas revealed his secret, first he found out the Spanish name for everything in his apartment and stuck post-it notes on each item so that he would remember the words.

Next step (which wasn’t just to learn the language) was to find a Spanish girlfriend and his vocabulary expanded considerably.

“Once I had some idea of what I was saying, I decided that I would have to have the guts to just go out, speak my version of

Niklas Söderström loves it here.

Spanish and not be afraid to make a fool of myself and it worked, as because I tried, people helped me to get better.”

The only slight negative (which many people find) is bureaucracy but Niklas shrugged and said “you learn to live with it.”

Now living in La Cala having moved from Marbella, he finds it quieter but more real and has made a number of friends, mainly English and Spanish as well as some Swedes and would recommend any compatriot considering moving here from Sweden to do so.

23 - 29 November 2023

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 23 - 29 November 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

AS France debates the possibility of granting second home owners who hold non-EU passports the right to a special visa allowing them to spend 180 days continuously in France, second home owners in Spain are taking heart from a report that the Spanish caretaker Minister of Tourism favours something similar.

In an article on the Euro Weekly News website which has received 10s of thousands of views, the concept of what is being considered is explained and a condensed version also appeared in edition 2002 of the paper editions. https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/11/12/can-spain-changeVisit schengen-rules/ to view the full story and see below some of the many comments, which have been received.

“

Absolutely that or not charge us local taxes for the months we are not allowed to be there - can’t have it both ways!!!

Toni Eastwood Obe

Allowing second home owners to spend six months at a time would be a benefit to all. People would be more likely to buy property to winter in if they could do so unrestricted.

It’s not really a change in the amount of time they could spend here, just a movement of when. It would still be six months a year as it is now.

Stays over 90 days are outside the purview of the Schengen Agreement.

It is up to each Schengen member state to decide whom to allow to stay for over 90 days on the basis of their national law.

Nothing in the Schengen Agreement forbids France and Spain to allow British citizens to stay longer than 90 days.

Spain could, for example, create a simplified procedure for British citizens to get a Spanish national visa which would allow them to stay for over 90 days in Spain.

Jan Kowalski

Spain is in a right sad and sorry state. High unemployment, especially mega high youth unemployment of about 25 per cent and wages are notoriously low.

Cobblers to them, they are causing their own problems, it’s hilarious.

Second home owners have invested in the country and even while they are not in their second home using resources, they continue to pay - council tax, imputed tax (on imputed income should you rent your home even if you don’t), standing charges on utilities which are not being consumed, service charges on any urbanisation or resort the second home might happen to be located on. lt is outrageous to lump second home owners in with tourists and l hope the Spanish government/EU sees sense soon!!

Joe Ace

Margaret Atkins

Well , that’s Brexit . You voted out , but still want to be in ?

Unfortunately many people in the UK wanted to exit the EU. They were fed misleading information about many aspects of this. I agree with the idea to change to 180 days but at the same time it smacks of that ‘special treatment’ that the UK seemed to be constantly pushing for when they were members of the EU. One hundred and eighty days, yes, after that don’t try for anything more is my view. The UK left and it has to get over many things that will change over time.

Andy Solomons

I suggest it may be illegal to be charged for services you are not legally allowed to use.

Bryan Colling

Vera Nilsson

Ninety day rule is killing Brit tourism, people now going to other destinations as getting complicated here in Spain, I’ve been here 35 years in business, I couldn’t believe Brexit, the damage it’s done and doing, the vote was a disgrace as Brits were totally misinformed and now paying the price of freedom, a majority vote would have been more realistic for such an important decision. I would love to see a re-vote as out of interest all the tourists I’ve asked would definitely vote different.

Spanish economic dependence is hugely affected by tourism, someone get their act together.

Kevin Burns

Keith Lott

This is an ok idea for the retired … People who work don’t come anywhere near the 90 day rule … Who has 90 days holiday anyway ??

Liam

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.

www.euroweeklynews.com • 23 - 29 November 2023

22

PETS

SPONSORED BY

Harmful ENSURING your dog’s health and well­being involves not only providing proper nutrition but also being aware of foods that can be harmful. Some hu­ man foods, no matter how tempting, should never be fed to your pet.

1. Chocolate: Containing theobromine, chocolate can be toxic to dogs, leading to vomiting and diarrhoea.

2. Grapes and Raisins: These seemingly harmless snacks can cause kidney failure in dogs.

3. Onions and Garlic: Mem­ bers of the allium family, these can damage a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia and other health complications.

4. Xylitol: Found in sugar­ free gum and some peanut butter, xylitol can cause insulin release, resulting in liver failure.

5. Alcohol: Even small amounts can cause intoxica­ tion, leading to coordination is­ sues and respiratory failure.

Exercise caution and stick to a balanced canine diet to en­ sure your pet’s safety.

A dog-sitter playmate when you’re away RECENTLY one of our dog­sitters Robin moved in to care for Blair and Lean for five weeks in the owner’s home. The pets were re­ laxed and entertained in their own home, and all was well until the owners returned after their holiday.

We help to match pet­sitters with the pet owners for free safe pet care in the pet’s own home, for free!

If you’re planning a trip in 2024 register now to find pet­sitters in time. Earlier is better than later.

Whether your trip is short or long, get organised ahead of time. All pets benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Join our pet and house­sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take:

Meet Blair and Lean who love their HouseSit Match dog-sitter.

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com 2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house 4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sit­ ters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our net­ work for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­ sitters see your advert, they re­ spond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent Pure Joy ­ I have completed two house­sits so far, so early days.

Both sits have been well suited to me and my dog.

Thoroughly enjoyable experi­ ences with beautiful homes and well­rounded animals. I’m looking for more!

Lisa Stimpson, Pet­sitter from the UK 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 or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com

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

Playtime with your cat.

Pawsitively essential ENGAGING in playtime with your feline friend goes beyond the joy of watching them pounce and bat at toys ­ it’s a crucial aspect of their physical and mental well­being.

1. Physical Exercise: Reg­ ular play sessions provide essential physical activity, helping to keep your cat in optimal shape. Interactive toys and activities encour­ age movement, preventing obesity and promoting a healthy heart.

2. Mental Stimulation: Cats are natural hunters, and play mimics this in­ stinct, offering mental stim­ ulation. Puzzle toys and in­ teractive games engage their problem­solving skills, preventing boredom and reducing the risk of behav­ ioral issues.

3. Bonding and Socialisa­ tion: Playtime fosters a strong bond between you and your cat. It’s a shared experience that builds trust and deepens the connec­ tion, enhancing the overall quality of your relationship.

4. Stress Relief: Play serves as an excellent stress reliever for cats. It allows them to release pent­up energy and reduces anxi­ ety, creating a calm and contented feline compan­ ion.

5. Prevents Behavioural Problems: Regular play can curb destructive be­ haviours such as scratching furniture or excessive me­ owing. It provides an ap­ propriate outlet for your cat’s natural instincts, pro­ moting a harmonious living environment.

Investing time in interac­ tive play with your cat not only enhances their physi­ cal health but also nurtures a happy, well­adjusted, and loving companion.

23

23 - 29 November 2023 • euroweeklynews.com BUY & SELL

CLEANING SERVICES

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

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

CAR FOR SALE

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

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

CHARITY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life - damaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca.org

OTHERS

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)

TRANSLATORS

REMOVALS & STORAGE

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779

If you can read it, so can your clients.

Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

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

SITUATIONS VACANT

CLASSIFIEDS REMOVALS & STORAGE

24 EWN 23 - 29 November 2023 REAL MADRID golden boy, Jude Bellingham is literally that after he secured the pres­ tigious 2023 ‘Golden Boy Award’.

Jude Bellingham, the 20­ year­old English football sen­ sation, has been honoured with the 2023 Golden Boy award. This prestigious recog­ nition, granted by the Italian sports journal Tuttosport, cele­ brates the most exceptional young talent in European foot­ ball under the age of 21.

The Italian magazine en­ thused: “When an interna­ tional jury made up of 50 au­ thoritative journalists from the most prestigious European newspapers awards a 20­ year­old 485 points out of a maximum of 500, you just have to take your hat off.”

The accolade recognises Bellingham’s outstanding con­ tributions to England, Borussia

euroweeklynews.com

Madrid’s Golden Boy Credit: charnsitr/Shutterstock.com

REAL MADRID: Celebrating exceptional young talent.

Dortmund, and Real Madrid.

Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, acclaimed Belling­ ham’s influence, and stated that he was, “the player who’s making the difference.”

Tuttosport expanded on Bellingham’s remarkable achievement. The magazine explained that in 2017, when Mbappe was declared Golden Boy, he too grabbed 97 per cent of the votes, the identical percentage obtained by Bellingham.

At the time there were only 30 jurors, not the 50 that they have today. For this reason,

they said the English midfield­ er is the ‘king of kings’ of the Golden Boy trophy.

His remarkable form, high­ lighted by scoring 13 goals in his first 13 games for Los Blan­ cos has elevated him above his peers, including Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde.

The Golden Boy title signi­ fies a bright future in football for Bellingham. It aligns him with past winners like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi, indicating his po­ tential to reach similar heights.

The Golden Boy award will be

presented at a gala in Turin on December 4.

His recent Kopa Trophy vic­ tory at the Ballon d’Or awards as the best under­21 player re­ inforces his emerging status in world football.

Despite facing challenges, including a shoulder injury that caused him to miss Madrid’s 5­1 triumph over Va­ lencia and withdrawal from the England squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers, Bellingham’s persistence and talent shine.

His ability to overcome these setbacks exemplifies the re­ solve and dedication charac­ teristic of elite athletes.

Bellingham’s achievements at such a young age are not just personal triumphs, but al­ so a source of inspiration. His journey, marked by resilience and exceptional skill, sets a benchmark for aspiring foot­ ballers worldwide.

His Golden Boy award not only highlights his current prowess but also points to­ wards a promising and im­ pactful career in the sport.

SPORT

Djokovic’s seventh ATP title SERBIAN tennis superstar Novak Djokovic claimed a sev­ enth ATP Finals title in Turin on Sunday, November 19.

In a dominant display of near­perfect tennis, he took one hour and 44 minutes to beat Italy’s Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 6­3 6­3.

The 22­year­old World­ranked No 7 was simply no match for the Serb, who is 14 years his senior. Sinner was the first Italian tennis player to ever reach the ATP Finals and had defeated Sunday’s opponent in their group match earlier in the week.

Speaking with Amazon Prime after his win, the champ described this year as: “One of the best seasons I’ve had in my life, no doubt. It’s very special. To crown it against a hometown hero in Jannik this week is phe­ nomenal. Tactically I played differently today than in the group stage against Jannik. Overall, a phenomenal week.”

As a result of Sunday’s victory, he broke his deadlock with Switzerland’s now­retired Roger Federer, who had won the title on six occasions previously.

Next up for him is the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 2023 Davis Cup Final. The tournament is being played at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga from Tuesday November 21 until Sunday, Thursday 26.

Serbia face England in their first match today, Thurs­ day November 23, with the winners advancing to play the victors of the match between Italy and the Nether­ lands. That could see Djokovic meeting Sinner again.