Costa de Almeria 30 Nov – 4 Dec 2023 Issue 2004

Costa de Almeria

• Issue No. 2004 • 30 Nov - 6 Dec 2023

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GRATIS

GRATIS

LIVING THE DREAM! MANY who live in this beauti­ ful region are often heard say­ ing that they are ‘living the dream’.

However, sometimes it’s easy to forget how scary it can be to make that move in the first place, to take that giant leap from everything you know back home, wherever that may be, to the dream of living in this slice of southern Spanish heaven.

Euro Weekly News spoke to a couple who have recently moved to Almeria from the UK, Anna Lojek­Davey and Matt Davey. If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than these two, as after chat­ ting with them for a while you may feel ready to follow even your wildest dreams!

Anna and Matt moved to Almeria from the UK.

Anna and Matt have been together for 13 years and lived in the UK working ‘standard’ jobs during this time. Howev­ er, each of them had a dream, a dream of following their pas­ sion in life and living some­ where that made them excit­ ed every day. Neither of them

wanted to “have any regrets on their deathbeds” as they put it.

They told EWN that they “both wanted to start actually living their lives” and one day decided they had had enough Turn to page 2

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30 November - 6 December 2023

LOCAL NEWS

“You only live once!”

From front page and it was time to make the move. “You only live once!”

Stated Matt when reminisc­ ing of the emotions around that time.

In a brave and bold move, they sold their house, said goodbye to ev­ erything they knew and jumped on a plane to Spain to pursue their plan. “It all

happened smoothly, the sale of the house etc, it felt like the universe was on our side and pushing us this way,” explained Anna.

They arrived here at the beginning of July this year and told Euro Weekly News that they are loving it so far.

“Life is more simple, it is less stressful, and although we are still working hard and disciplined, we both

House of Culture

THE schoolchildren of Antas enjoyed a fabulous day as they visited The House of Culture.

On the morning of Thursday November 23, the five­year­old school students embarked on the programme of ‘How Beautiful Is My Town’.

These young learners visited the fantastic facili­ ties of the Antas House of Culture. There they were able to see the culture area, the sports facilities, the Local Police, the library, the adult school and the Post Offices.

These excited little ones showed a lot of interest and eagerly asked many questions about the work being done in each of the departments.

Another day of immersive learning that they will not soon forget!

feel a sense of freedom,” the couple explained.

Matt is working as a mu­ sician, something he had al­ ways dreamed of, and has performed various live gigs in Almeria, gaining himself an excellent reputation al­ ready.

Anna’s passion is pho­ tography, she has set up her business Anna Lojek­ Davey Photography over here and is actively taking bookings! They say they feel “very grateful to be here,” and Euro Weekly News is very excited for this cute and courageous couple’s future. We wish them all the best.

For more information on musical or photography bookings, check out Matt or Anna’s Facebook pages.

5.3 trillion The estimated number of plastic pieces in the world’s oceans.

LOCAL NEWS

NIBS EXTRA Park refurb REFURBISHMENT works to adapt and improve La Era Park in Antas have begun, meaning that the park will remain temporarily closed until its completion. Howev­ er, this temporary inconve­ nience will result in a shiny, brand new park for the little ones of the town.

Irish best A NEW Irish Store, The Ha’penny Bridge, will be opening soon in Almeria.

The food shop, which will be located in Olula Del Rio on Avenida Pintor Antonio Lopez, is set to open on De­ cember 5, and promises to bring ‘the best of Ireland’ to Spain. They will also offer some English products too!

Driver wanted AA dog rescue in Albox are looking for a volunteer driver for their van one morning per week to collect dona­ tions and deliver furniture items to local towns. The person must be over 25 and have a full Spanish driving li­ cence. Please contact AA dog rescue on Facebook.

School safety THE council of Albox contin­ ue with their maintenance work at the School Virgen del Saliente and the Caños fountain. They have even pruned and cleaned the trees to eliminate any risk of falling after the past storm.

Quiz night THE Carillo Bar in Albox holds their Winter Quiz Night ev­ ery Wednesday. Why not get a team together? Or come alone to meet some new friends. Groups can be of any number from one to six.

Charity raffle DON’T forget to come into Total Entertainment in Turre to buy your numbers for their charity hamper raffle. It is just €2.50 per number and they aim to sell all 100 num­ bers so they can hand over the full €250 to Trex Andalu­ cia Sanctuary.

euroweeklynews.com AITANA CANO, a junior karate fighter from Alme­ ria has taken home the gold in the Spanish Junior Championship Competi­ tion.

The tournament, which was held in Albacete, saw Almeria’s own karate kid, Aitana Cano, stand tall at the top of the podium as the champion of all of Spain.

Despite Aitana only be­ ing 14 years old she al­ ready has two silvers, a bronze and now the re­ cent glittering gold medal.

30 November - 6 December 2023

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Karate Kid 126

YOUR EWN HAS

Credit: Fuentes Informadas

CHAMPION: Aitana in action.

Marvellous Mercadona MANY Mercadona supermarkets have joined the ‘Great Food Collection 2023’, in­ cluding 33 stores here in the province of Almeria.

To take part in this Great Food Collection, which has been organised by the Spanish Federation of Food Banks, FESBAL, you can donate at any of the participating Mer­ cadona supermarkets.

In total, 1,632 Mercadona stores from all over Spain will participate, and the compa­ ny’s collaboration will be made through monetary donations of €1 which customers can make at the moment of purchase when they are checking out. The donated amounts will then be sent to the participat­ ing Food Banks that are desperately in need at this time of year. Mercadona was already collaborating with more than 650 soup kitchens, 65 food banks and other similar organisations in Spain.

Enjoying wild waters

Credit: Barry Van Den Facebook

WINTER FUN: Riding the wave!

‘SURFS UP’ were the words to de­ scribe the waters on the Almeria coast this past weekend, specifical­ ly on Mojacar beach, as thrill seek­ ers got out their boards and were brave enough to ride the wild waves!

As many know, Almeria is a province that rarely denies its resi­ dents a trip to the beach! Enjoying fine weather all year round, locals are known to frequent the beach in all seasons.

Soulful Gypsy Day VERA experienced a moving day, cel­ ebrating Andalucian Gypsy Day with literature, music and memory.

In a soulful event that was held at the iconic Hermitage of San Anton in Vera and presented by Luis Terry, the roots of the Andalucian Gypsy culture were explored and celebrat­ ed in many magical moments that were shared by local residents and tourists alike.

Attendees were treated to the per­ formance of the esteemed guitarists Juan Jose Aguilera, Juan Jose Aguil­

Apart from this, she al­ so took the title of ‘Grand Winner’, which signifies that she was the most regular in the champi­ onship that takes place throughout the year, win­ ning all the finals of the regular karate league that are held throughout.

Aitana won all the fi­ nals, being the best in all categories.

era Jr and the pianist Ambrosio Fer­ nandez. The story of a historical and poetic chronicle, set in the time of Ferdinand VI, in 1749, was then re­ cited, which told of the rescuing from oblivion as well as the attempt­ ed genocide against the gypsy popu­ lation in Spain, known as the Great Gypsy Roundup.

As palms clapped and some tears were shed, all ended arm in arm, as this tragic yet touching history was once again remembered here in the town of Vera.

Last weekend was particularly special however, with huge waves crashing against the shore, acting as an enticing invite for surfers and spectators alike.

Many people arrived in their camper vans and were seen to en­ joy hours of wave riding before the sun finally set.

What a lovely sight of winter fun, just one of the benefits that this province of paradise that we live in offers.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Christmas Karaoke IS there anything better or more universally loved and cherished than Chrismtas? What is that I hear you cry? Oh yes, the good old Karaoke!

Emerald Isle in Mo­ jacar have now magically combined these two fan favourites in a series of fabulous nights that is sure to bring laughter, tears and maybe a few beers! The official Count­ down to Christmas Char­ ity Karaoke Challenge is already on heat three, with just four more heats to go, that will be held on December 4, De­ cember 11 and Decem­ ber 18, with the Grand Final being on Christmas Eve! Willing participants do not need to book and can just turn up any Monday, with all ages welcome and other fun activities such as bumper raffle, beer draw, scratch cards all on offer!

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

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30 November - 6 December 2023

LOCAL NEWS

AH the humble potato. Or potato, depending on how you choose to pronounce it.

So simple, yet so special.

Imagine a world without crispy chips, steaming jack­ ets or good old mash!

On Sunday, December 3, this divine vegetable will have its day, as many will get together to celebrate it at the annual Potato Fair in Juaro.

Starting at 12pm in the main square, on offer will be typical meals made with the best potatoes raised in Jauro. There will also be a bar and the great atmo­ sphere will be topped off with brilliant live music for attendees to enjoy.

This is a unique and cul­ tural event that should not be missed, so get your jack­ et on and grab your best spuds!

ON December 1, the eagerly awaited Christmas lights of Huercal-Overa will be switched on.

The activities will start on this date with the Night of Light, which will be an opportunity to make purchases with great discounts in more than 50 stores in the town. This day will also include multiple attractions in order to really make it a magical night.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK “Joy shared is doubled; sorrow shared is halved.”

This proverb is originally from Sweden and alludes to the fact that when we share another’s sorrows, we help lighten their load, and when we share their joys, we join in their happiness.

At 5.30pm the Charanga ‘Los Juaraguinos’ will fill the streets of the town with music and then the following hour, at 6.30pm on Guillermo Reyna Avenue, the Christmas Cajonada will take place, performed by the students of the Flamenco Cajon workshop of the Martín Alonso Municipal Music School.

Then, at 7.00pm one of the most anticipated moments of this celebration will finally arrive, the lighting of the spectacular Christmas lighting in the Plaza de la Constitucion, which will be enlivened by the Christmas Carols of the Municipal Choir, cul-

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Huercal Overa

Potato, Potato Night of Light

Huercal-Overa Christmas lights.

minating with the magical Disney Christmas parade.

In addition to all of this, the icing on the cake, or as you might say, the star on top of the tree, shopping on the Night of Light will result in a prize being up for grabs; a trip to The Warner Brothers Theme Park in Madrid and a lunch-dinner for two at a Michelin Star restaurant!

A historical party VERA will hold its official ‘The Party of Our Histo­ ry’ this Saturday, Decem­ ber 2.

The historical celebra­ tion of Vera’s roots, which are thanks to the help of the Provincial Council of Almeria, in­ vites people from far and wide to visit the El Palmeral de Vera fair­ ground to experience the surreal sensation of traveling back in time to dive deep into some of the most brilliant pages of the books of history from the province.

This is a perfect pro­ gramme to experience a morning as a family, learning and rediscover­ ing Vera’s deep history, its roots, as well as cele­ brating its identity and spreading the legacy of its ancestors.

With this event, the town of Vera aims to bring a very important part of its history to the entire society in an edu­ cational and entertaining way, open to all types of audiences who was to take a leap back into the past.

99.9% The genetic similarity between all humans.

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30 November - 6 December 2023

Just in time ON Thursday, December 7, Miraflores will turn magical, with their Christmas Artisan Market and car boot sale in Los Gallardos.

For all things wonderful, whimsical, and one of a kind this winter, come and visit this market full of unique crafts, bespoke gifts, and surprising treasures next week in Los Gallardos, just in time for the festive season!

Whether you have Christ­ mas gifts, home­made prod­ ucts or quality second­hand personal items to sell, come along and present them at your own stall at the artisan market, the stall is free! Just make sure to reserve your spot by calling + (34) 950 528 324 .

Or if you are more interest­ ed in shopping till you drop, come and enjoy this unique collection of trinkets and gifts alongside enchanting attrac­ tions. The event begins at 10am and goes on until around 2pm.

This exciting experience will be sure to light up Miraflores this Christmas season.

LOCAL NEWS

Dining with dogs Vera Nativity TAKING dogs to restau­ rants is usually no problem in Spain as most terraces allow animals and even provide them with water bowls and a biscuit or two!

However, now that the weather has become chilli­ er here in Almeria, espe­ cially during the evening, many pet owners may be wondering if there are any nice eateries that either have outdoor heating or allow dogs inside. After all, we can’t let the pooches perish!

Euro Weekly News did some investigating and found many tried and test­ ed recommendations from various local residents.

Zeppelin. Brad Swift says, “the most dog friend­ ly pub on the beach”. This local hangout is located in Mojacar and can be found on the Paseo del Mediter­ raneo. An added bonus is that it has great cocktails and live music to enjoy!

The Irish Rover. Jackie

DINING OUT: Don’t let your pooch perish outside.

Simmons says, “without a doubt The Irish Rover. In addition to the good food and drink, they also supply clean water and dog treats from the bar!” Howl cute!

This rockin’ restaurant is located on Mojacar beach.

Charlotte’s Bar and Restaurant. Anthony Hak­ er says, “all the food is ex­ cellent and served with a smile. It is dog friendly and they provide water for your hairy friend. Consid­ ering ours are Great Danes this is appreciated. Lovely staff.” This place is located

in Albox on Avenida de Lepanto.

The Olive Tree. Hannah Dawson says, “it’s great for dogs, they usually get their drink first haha, proper dog lovers in there!” You can find this Mediter­ ranean restaurant in Mo­ jacar, right on the seafront!

As they say ‘dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen’, so excuse us as Euro Week­ ly News adds ‘canine’ to its already extensive list of languages spoken!

THE opening of the monumental nativity of Vera took place on Saturday, November 25, at the Convento de la Victoria.

A surprising work of art was presented to spectators by the Vera nativity scene, which was created by the artist Antonio de Haro Marquez with the collaboration of the ‘Friends of the Vera Nativity Scene’ Association and with lighting by Francis Sanchez Morata.

This year the nativity is based on the very first religious rep­ resentation that was made of it all those 800 years ago in 1223, by Saint Francis of Assisi in Greccio in Italy.

The event was masterfully entertained by the fantastic Ve­ ra Orchestra and featured the reading of the nativity scene by Fran Carrillo Periago.

Attendees were also able to enjoy the ‘70 CHRISTMAS OF THE WORLD’ collection by Pepe Fructuoso that will now re­ main on display at the Convento de la Victoria next to the Bethlehem display from 11.00am to 1.30pm and from 5.00pm to 8.30pm.

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Vera

EWN

Credit: Youtube

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NOW OPEN: Admiring the Nativity.

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INFLATION has sent many of us into a struggle in recent years. However, the Almeria Chamber of Commerce have decided to step in with a su­ perhero style plan to combat it for their communities.

The name of this plan is ‘Toda Almeria’, All Almeria, and it will reduce the cost of electricity for many residents of this fair region.

They have stated that with­ in approximately one year,

30 November - 6 December 2023

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Cutting costs families and self­employed people from the eight towns that have joined this coopera­ tive, Pulpi, Cuevas del Alman­ zora, Bayarque, Abrucena, Las Tres Villas, Nijar, Sufli and Maria, will be able to benefit from a substantial discount on the electricity bill.

“We have not invented

Traditional music TRADITIONAL music will take over Huercal Overa this Saturday, December 2.

The town will host ‘Juan de Dios Alcolea’, a musical event, annu­ ally held close to Christmas, that has been organised by the council and the Folklore group Choirs and Dances Virgen del Rio. Traditional music groups, ‘El Niño de Nápoles’ from Puerto Lum­ breras and ‘Panda de Veriales’ will perform and a hostess from Huercal­Overa will show the music and dance of the land.

The festivities will start at 10.00am, where attendees will be able to enjoy a parade, a traditional breakfast and of course the dance party by the groups. The mayor of the town, Domingo Fer­ nandez explained that this day was to “bring our traditions closer to the neighbours who will be able to enjoy part of our folklore with the groups. This event is a reference in our cultural program­ ming for Christmas.”

The councillor for Culture, Ana Martinez, has invited all residents of the Almeria region to participate in this event which “we contin­ ue to preserve our traditions while involving young people and children with the aim of maintaining them in their hearts.”

anything,” stated Jeronimo Parra, president of the Alme­ ria Chamber, “we have limit­ ed ourselves to promoting here an initiative that has been operating successfully in Navarra for just over a year, and if they have achieved sig­ nificant savings there, the one we will achieve, with 700 more hours of sunshine per year, will be very important.”

The project consists of in­ stalling photovoltaic panels on the roofs of buildings and municipally owned spaces.

The energy produced will not only reduce the electricity ex­ penditure of each member municipality, but also that of the neighbors who subse­ quently join.

According to the Navarrese experience, the benefit will translate into a considerable reduction in the electricity bill of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent. “Taking into ac­ count that the average amount is around €100, we are talking about €30 per month,” explained the Presi­ dent of the Chamber.

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Credit: Ayuntamiento de Albox

LOCAL NEWS

APPRECIATED ORGANISATION: Ensuring the safety of the town and its neighbours.

Protecting Albox Tom Hague THE town of Albox will soon recover its lost local Civil Protection service that was extinguished during the last legislature.

The motion was present­ ed by the socialist group in the plenary session of the corporation in ordinary ses­ sion held on November 3 for the creation of the local Civil Protection service. It has subsequently been ap­ proved unanimously.

The objective of the Civil Protection organisation,

which is made up of Albo­ jens volunteers, is funda­ mentally to respond to as­ pects related to forecasting, prevention, planning, intervention and rehabilitation in emergency situations During the pandemic, they carried out commend­ able work to support people infected by Covid­19, offer­ ing to bring them food and collect their waste, in an ex­ ample of public service and solidarity with others that should not be forgotten.

They were also always essential in events such as the pilgrimage or the fair it­ self, taking care of every­ one’s safety and providing fundamental support for the Local Police in coordi­ nation and surveillance tasks.

Without a doubt, it is a much appreciated and nec­ essary organisation for Al­ box, that will soon return to ensure the safety of the town and all its neighbours, as it had been doing previ­ ously.

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30 November - 6 December 2023

LOCAL NEWS

A new look NOW that the weather has suddenly changed, some of you may be digging out those winter clothes that you haven’t had out for months.

However, if you fancy a new look this season, or just a little wardrobe update, consider going to the AA Dog Rescue Charity Shop, where there are many wonderful items in great condition, and for a bargain price!

AA Dog Rescue is a Dog Rescue, Charity shop and Kennels located in Albox.

They provide valuable and important care for stray ani­ mals who really need them, as well as offering dog board­

Credit: Facebook

EWN

CHARITY SHOP: There are great deals to be had.

ing services to the public.

In their charity shop, which is located on Calle Asturias in Albox, their new winter col­ lection is now out!

They have men’s and ladies coats and jackets for just €5, tops and jumpers for €3, jeans and trousers also at €3 and shoes and boots for

various prices. They have even got two wedding dress­ es which are both in a UK size 10 and can be requested to try and are open to offers.

These great deals are all in their shop right now, so come down and take a look, for the true meaning of guilt free shopping this Christmas!

Sunflowers in Spain PAINTING can be extremely therapeutic, whether one considers themselves ‘talented’ at it or not. It is also a great way to discover in­ ner creativity and relieve stress.

One very famous painting worldwide is that of Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’. It is believed that they were painted to represent gratitude for the world and its simple plea­ sures, as he famously stated that he painted the flowers, “and nothing else”.

To try your hand at your very own special sunflowers, Cahoots Department Store in Mojacar are hosting a Sunflower Painting Wa­ tercolour Workshop on Wednesday Decem­ ber 6.

Michele Winfield will be teaching this cre­ ative class to guide attendees through their painting pleasures. The finished piece may make a lovely gift for Christmas, for either a family member, friend, or that all important self!

The workshop is also a great way to meet new local friends and let one’s inner child out for the afternoon.

Credit: Wikipedia

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Van Gogh’s Masterpiece

Limited spaces available so it is important to book early. To find out more information about this or any other courses contact via Whatsapp on 711 006 027.

Vera lights THE month of Christmas is fi­ nally upon us, and the magic will alight in Vera this week­ end with the official turning on of its festive lights.

On Saturday, December 2, the magic of Christmas be­ gins in Vera with the lighting of lights, an event that has been anticipated by many as preparations have been made throughout the town

in the past couple of weeks.

Following this, there will even be an otherworldly py­ romusical show, which will be located in the Plaza May­ or.

The spectacle will begin at 8pm, with a special Zambon­ bada Flamenca perfor­ mance of ‘Christmas Leg­ ends’ also being shown at 8.30pm.

New arrival A NEW animal has been con­ firmed to now live in the province of Almeria, the mon­ goose!

This specific species is named Herpestes Ichneumon and they are currently the only mongoose present in Europe.

Until now, they had never been documented in the Almeria, since it was typically known to live in the south­ western quadrant of the Iberi­ an Peninsula.

10 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

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LOCAL NEWS

IN 2016 the Albox Munic­ ipal Monumental Nativi­ ty Scene suddenly disap­ peared and ended one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the Albo­ jense Christmas.

This Christmas howev­ er, Albox has finally re­ covered its traditional municipal monumental nativity scene.

The only problem was that the pieces of the original municipal Nativi­ ty scene were in a very poor state. However, with a little Christmas magic all has been re­ solved, and Vanesa Aguila, a councillor from the Associations area, has enlisted the help of the ‘Local Board of the Spanish Association against Cancer’, to carry out a restoration work­ shop.

The mayor of Albox, Maria del Mar Alfonso,

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Albox

A seasonal surprise Nativity returns RESTORATION: A workshop has been put into place.

explained that “we want to recover our Christmas as it has always been. A Christmas with the town associations and where the neighbours are the main protagonists. Our Municipal Nativity Scene was unfortunately in very bad condition, that is why we have asked for collab­ oration and they are do­ ing a fantastic job.”

The scene will also have an enchanting new feature on its 2023 re­ turn, a letter box for chil­ dren to send their Christ­

mas letters to the Three Magic Kings, who will vis­ it the municipality in Jan­ uary.

“I want to thank all the volunteers for the work they are doing to restore the Nativity scene,”,con­ cluded the mayor, “and I take this opportunity to invite all the residents of Albox and the region to visit us, get to know the Nativity Scene and make their purchases in our stores. Now more than ever we have to support local commerce.”

HUERCAL­OVERA will present ‘The Factory of Illusion’, a unique Christmas programme for all to enjoy this season.

The mayor of Huercal­ Overa, Domingo Fernandez, together with the councillors of Culture, Ana Martinez, and Commerce, Monica Navarro, have presented this quirky Christmas programme, de­ signed to make this season a unique experience and full of joy. ‘The Factory of Illusion’, will transform the town into a magical setting for locals and visitors alike.

It will be installed in the Adolfo Suarez Municipal Park, a landmark that promises to surprise visitors with choco­ late houses, cookie dolls, unique lighting and many oth­ er Christmas wonders. The opening, which is scheduled for December 2 at 5.00pm will include workshops, seasonal games and popcorn!

In addition to this, Paseo de la Alameda will house a Christ­ mas Park with a tent where various activities will be car­ ried out, including children’s and family workshops, Christ­

FROM sweltering sun to slippery snow, res­ idents of Almeria should be prepared for an extreme weather change as 79 profes­ sionals have been hired and 380 tons of salt ordered to protect the roads of Alme­ ria.

The delegate of the Government of An­ dalucia in Almeria, Aranzazu Martín ex­ plained that “the province of Almeria is now prepared for the fall of the first snow thanks to this plan, designed to guarantee road safety within the risk of snowfall and frost in the province.”

mas cookies making and four fantastical escape rooms!

In response to the requests of many young people, on December 23, 24, 30 and 31, as well as January 6, this Christmas tent will be a space dedicated to music and youth fun.

The mayor of the town has stated that they will be “build­ ing together unforgettable memories in this Christmas full of hope and surprises.”

Adding that “we are waiting for you to share the magic of these dates in Huercal­Overa.”

Surely not?

The territorial delegate of Development, Dolores Martinez Utrera explained that “this is a device made up of 79 profession­ als, which could reach 86 if necessary. In addition to a total collection of 380 tons of salt, 34 machines and vehicles, including eight snow plow trucks.”

Talk about a quick switch, it looks like Almeria may be treated to a white Christ­ mas after all!

12 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

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LOCAL NEWS

Luis Artero Ridao (far left) and his family.

Luis Artero has a degree in History from the University of Granada, with a specialty in Con­ temporary History. He has developed research work at a local level in various towns in Almeria.

In addition, he has given numerous confer­ ences and is a member of the Argarico Council and the Argaria cultural association, of which he is secretary, and in which he coordinates the events of the History department, such as the re­ cent ‘Antas in Moorish times’ conference.

A TRAIN accident oc­ curred on Sunday, November 27 from Alme­ ria to Madrid, as the mov­ ing vehicle actually came off of the track.

The train, that was trav­ eling from Almeria to the capital of the country, Madrid, dramatically de­ railed with a total of 37 passengers inside at the time.

The time of the acci­

dent was around 12pm and was a result of the displacement of some axles.

Regarding the accident, Renfe has stated that “the Intercity train had parked in Atocha, 178 of its 215 travellers had got­ ten off there. There were 37 left on board. The train started at very low speed and, as soon as it started towards Chamartin, sev­

eral sections left the track. The 37 travellers have been evacuated at the Atocha station itself.”

Luckily, although shak­ en up, none of the pas­ sengers suffered any inju­ uries. After the incident however, a large number of security officers were quickly deployed to con­ trol the situation, as there were moments of anger and tension.

Almeria on the map THE three Almeria towns of Mojacar, Lucainena and Nijar will now ap­ pear on the Michelin Guide maps, promoting their beauty and culture.

These towns will ap­ pear alongside the best restaurants and gourmet proposals on the official maps of the prestigious Michelin Guide which will attract many more tourists to these areas,

as well as recognising their worth of a visit.

The Most Beautiful Towns Directive took in­ to account and valued the beauty of the Nijaran urban complex, “of great attractiveness, for its

preserved structure of Arab origin, labyrinthine and narrow, for the whiteness of its houses, for its Mudejar church, for its craftsmanship and the kindness of its peo­ ple.”

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Andarax

THE historian Luis Artero Ridao will be elected of­ ficial chronicler of Antas during an extraordinary plenary session that will take place on the night of Friday, December 1. The proposal has the sup­ port of the two political groups, PSOE and PP, the only requirement that was demanded by Artero to accept the position.

Luis Artero evokes as a reference Mr Gabriel Martínez Guerrero, his predecessor in office who died on September 27, 2022.

He stated that “I share with Don Gabriel the love for Antas and the history of our town. I hope to be a worthy successor to his research ca­ pacity.” Another of his inspirations is Enrique Fer­ nandez Bolea, official chronicler of Cuevas del Al­ manzora. “For many years he has been carrying out an enormous and paradigmatic work of dis­ covery and dissemination of Cave History and heritage worthy of observing and emulating,” said Artero.

Credit: Facebook

Cute chronicler Train off the track

NOVELTY: The Canicross race!

Pet fair’s a hit

THE ‘AlmAnimal’ pet fair was a hit with more than 5,000 attending with their beloved animal friends.

The councillor for Envi­ ronmental and Energy Sus­ tainability, Antonio Ur­ diales, hailed the success of the third edition of Al­ mAnimal, the great pet welfare fair that was held last weekend in the south­ ern area of Andarax Park, next to the Centre Zoosan­ itary of Almeria.

More than 5,000 people attended this special event, which included Canicross, a novelty dog race, as well as a pet con­ test which had prizes for the friendliest dog as well as a fun category which was the dog that most re­ sembles their owner!

“From the Almería City

Council we are very satis­ fied with the development of the third edition of Al­ mAnimal. In the Andarax Park facilities there has been a great family atmo­ sphere during the two days and there have been thousands of people from Almeria who have enjoyed the activities, talks and competitions that have been held,” said Antonio Urdiales.

In an additional and fan­ tastic piece of news it has been reported that during the fair, at least 12 dogs and cats were adopted!

Finally, Antonio Urdiales has encouraged anyone who wants to adopt an an­ imal to visit the Zoosani­ tary in Almeria which is open to the public from Monday to Saturday.

LOCAL NEWS

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30 November - 6 December 2023

EWN 13

‘THE hand of God protected Palomares’. That was the phrase that was uttered with relief on the fateful day of January 17, 1966. That day of blue skies and sum­ mer sun, a day where an Almeria town that was nor­ mally quiet and peaceful was put on the world’s radar by the operation dubbed ‘Chrome Dome’.

The 1966 Palomares B­52 crash, also called the Palo­ mares incident, was a nucle­ ar accident in Almeria that nearly ended in complete and utter devastation. This infamous Spanish story was recently revisited on the PBS America channel, which has sparked the event to be re­ membered and brought it back into conversations, es­ pecially here in Almeria.

It all occurred on January 17, 1966, when a B­52G bomber of the United States Air Force’s Strategic Air Command collided with a KC­135 tanker during mid­air refuelling at 31,000 feet over the Mediterranean Sea.

Credit: Wikipedia

The Palomares Incident

CHROME DOME: The contaminated crash.

The KC­135 was destroyed when its fuel load ignited, killing all four crew mem­ bers. The B­52G broke apart, killing three of the seven crew members aboard.

After this, four thermonu­ clear bombs fell on the town of Palomares which is situat­ ed in the district Cuevas del Almanzora in Almeria. A to­ tal of 2.6 square kilometres was contaminated with ra­ dioactive material. This in­ cluded residential areas, farmland (especially tomato farms) and woods.

To defuse public alarm over contamination, on

March 8 of that year the Spanish minister for Infor­ mation and Tourism Manuel Fraga Iribarne and United States ambassador Angier Biddle Duke remarkably swam on the beaches of Mojacar and Palomares in front of the press.

In 2004, a study revealed that there was still some sig­ nificant contamination pre­ sent in certain areas, and the Spanish government subsequently expropriated some plots of land which would otherwise have been slated for agriculture use or housing construction.

Fully equipped p open p p plan kitchen working well withhe rest of the house.

14 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

ONGOING FIGHT: Mojacar stands together against gender violence.

MOJACAR Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the ongoing fight against gender violence.

On November 25 the mayor of Mo­ jacar, Francisco Garcia Cerda, accompa­ nied by his corporation, held a public event in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento consisting of the reading of a manifesto in which he expressed his condemnation and the need to combat violence against women.

In this manifesto, the Mojacar mayor highlighted that “Mojacar Council, in representation of all the people who make up our municipality, through this act, reaffirms its commitment to fight against all types of gender violence, and condemns any act or type of violence against women, not accepting any type of justification and expressing the great­

est revulsion, sharing their pain and that of all their families.”

At another point in his reading, Fran­ cisco Garcia Cerda affirmed: “For this reason, Mojácar Council calls on every­ one, men and women of our community, to defend equality as a basis for making us stronger against gender violence.”

Finally, Mojacar Council wants to ex­ pressly state that: “We accept our per­ sonal commitment to fight against all types of violence, reporting assaults, supporting the victims, not remaining silent in the face of violence and com­ municating through education to the fu­ ture generations respect for the equality of women and men, relating as equals and fathers and mothers giving the same opportunities to their sons and daugh­ ters, without distinction by sex.”

LOCAL NEWS

Adorable and abandoned RESIDENCIA CANINA LECO in Cantoria is not just a dog kennel, but also a shelter that cares for abandoned dogs and helps them find their forever homes.

Last week, an adorable young dog was found aban­ doned near a dumpster, across from their kennel. Of course, this caring centre picked up the poor animal and immediately gave her the love and care she need­ ed whilst beginning to look for a family for her.

An offer quickly came in from a person who suppos­ edly wanted her, but would not come first to meet her, so was therefore refused as Canina Leco needs to trust that their dogs are going to loving homes and not being used for other purposes.

Credit: Canina Leco Facebook

DO you hear the people sing? Well, you probably will this weekend! A spe­ cial Les Miserables singing workshop is being held in Turre.

This fantastic singing workshop will be hosted

by Sue Moretta and will be focused on, arguably the best and most moving musical of all time, the un­ forgettable Les Miser­ ables. The focus of the day will be the song, ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’.

Participants of this pop­ ular workshop will learn this wonderful song with harmonies alongside singing with a group of like minded people. All whilst building confidence, mak­ ing friends but above all, having fun!

This will be held at the Evangelist Church in Turre on Saturday December 9, starting at 1pm and end­ ing at around 2.30pm.

For any further informa­ tion you can contact Sue Moretta on Facebook or just turn up!

Continued commitment Credit: Ayuntamiento de Mojacar

Sing a Song

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The lovely lady!

They have stated that “it’s heart­breaking because she is so affectionate, but we won’t be able to keep her beyond next week.”

This is a beautiful galgo­ podenco, she is visibly healthy, very sociable and she is especially affection­ ate! She is barely a year old and is just waiting, in hope of a happy future.

If you can help contact Xavier on 618 379 262.

Farewell Father CANON Alan Bennet, who has served the Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida as their priest for over 16 years, will be re­ turning to the UK in a few days time.

Father Alan, although having retired from full time work some years ago, has worked tirelessly for the Chaplaincy and has be­ come a faithful friend to many in the area. He has guided people through some difficult times and

has been a tremendous support to other incum­ bent priests.

The Chaplaincy held a special service of thanks­ giving on Friday November 24 at the Anglican church in Llanos del Peral fol­ lowed by a sharing lunch.

Although he will be gone in the physical form, the difference in lives that he has made will not soon be forgotten, nor will the loving legacy that he has left.

LOCAL NEWS

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30 November - 6 December 2023

Bandidos in Benidorm.

A big congratulations to all!

Los Bandidos was set up in

LAST Sunday, November 26, many came and enjoyed the latest fun­filled activity from the popular ‘Winter Beaches’ programme in Vera.

The day consisted of a pilates class, of mod­ erate difficulty, where participants of all ages and abilities stretched and felt strong! This was then followed by a daring dance class which was full of twists and tricks and turns.

Both sessions were packed full of positive energy, contagious laughter and challenges that tested everyone to improve themselves!

Great energy and enthusiasm was felt from all these beautiful beach bodies. See you all next week?

June 2018 with a small group running the 5k Mojacar Paseo, and now has road cy­ cling, sea swimming and triathlon groups. All ages, na­ tionalities and speeds are welcome, whether perma­ nent residents or holiday makers. Los Bandidos are keen to integrate and support the local community.

They are currently collect­ ing donations, toys, books and games for the Red Cross Xmas Toy Appeal.

Beach bodies!

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Vera

THE Los Bandidos runners of Mojacar travelled slightly fur­ ther afield than usual last weekend to participate in the Benidorm Half Marathon and 10k on Saturday November 25 and the Lorca Half Marathon and 10k on Sunday November 26.

Reports from Benidorm not only stated that it was a very well organised event but that participants also walked away with a fantastic goody bag!

Credit: Ayuntamiento de Mojacar

A mighty marathon!

The beach bodies in action!

Traditional music TRADITIONAL music will take over Huercal Overa this Saturday, December 2.

The town will host ‘Juan de Dios Alcolea’, a musical event, annually held close to Christ­ mas, that has been organised by the council and the Folklore group Choirs and Dances Vir­ gen del Rio. Traditional music groups, ‘El Niño de Nápoles’ from Puerto Lumbreras and ‘Panda de Veriales’ will perform and a hostess from Huercal Overa will show the music and dance of the land.

The festivities will start at 10.00am, where attendees will be able to enjoy a parade, a tra­

ditional breakfast and of course the dance par­ ty by the groups. The mayor of the town, Domingo Fernandez explained that this day was to “bring our traditions closer to the neigh­ bours who will be able to enjoy part of our folk­ lore with the groups. This event is a reference in our cultural programming for Christmas.”

The councillor for Culture, Ana Martinez, has invited all the residents of the Almeria region to participate in this event with which “we contin­ ue to preserve our traditions while involving young people and children in them with the aim of continuing to maintain them in their hearts.”

Consum careers THE well­known supermarket chain ‘Consum’ have opened a new shop in the town of Adra that will provide 34 new jobs.

On Thursday, November 23, in the town of Adra, Consum opened its new location that is located on Natalio Ri­ vas Street, 85 and has an area of more than 1,230 square metres. Prior to the opening the company had already hired a total of 34 new employees in jobs related to the new location. All of these are from the province of

Almeria.

Consum Adra holds 29 customer parking spaces and even two charging points for electric cars, its opening hours are Monday to Saturday, from 9.00am to 9.30pm.

The mayor of Adra, Manuel Cortes, has publicly thanked Consum “for the magnificent shop they have set up in our area” adding that "from the coun­ cil we are going to continue facilitat­ ing what is in our power so that Adra is open to new investors.”

EWN 15

16 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

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NEWS

‘Access fee’ to Venice THE Italian city of Venice presented its official 2024 calendar on Thursday, November 23, which in­ cluded details about the proposed tax for visitors.

As announced in the municipality of Ca’ Farset­ ti by Luigi Brugnano, the city’s mayor, the charge to enter the iconic desti­ nation has been set at €5.

This charge will have to be paid between the hours of 8.30am and 4pm by anybody wishing to en­ ter Venice who is not staying in one of the city’s accommodation facilities for a total of just 29 days in the first year.

It starts with an uninter­ rupted block of 11 days, from April 25 to May 1 in­ clusive. The fee will then be applicable on the Sat­ urdays and Sundays of May 11 and 12, 18 and 19, 25 and 26.

Similarly, it applies in June, on 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 22 and 23, 29 and 30, and on July 6 and 7, and

Credit: Kent Wang/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0

VENICE: Proposing to tax visitors to the city.

13 and 14.

There will be no charge on the Republic Day weekend dates of June 1 and 2, and the Easter peri­ od is also excluded from the scheme. The main part of the summer high season in August has been left without any charge too.

The measure was devel­ oped in an attempt to de­ fine a new system of visi­ tor management and also

discourage daily tourism in Venice in certain peri­ ods.

The trial will cost around €3 million, and a return of no more than €700,000 is expected.

“This test is not designed to make cash, because it will cost us more than it will bring in. The aim is to measure the effect and eventual effectiveness of the bookability,” ex­ plained Brugnano.

Change in Ireland?

IS peace at risk in Dublin? In the wake of the recent outbreaks of violence, Conor McGregor has shared his views and highlighted deeper issues within society.

Dublin experienced chaotic scenes on Thursday, November 23, following a dis­ tressing knife assault that injured three children, and two adults. The incident sparked violent demonstrations in the Irish capital.

Conor McGregor has been openly crit­ ical of the government’s handling of these events. Earlier this week he com­ mented after the life imprisonment of Jozef Puska, a 33­year­old Slovakian na­ tional convicted of murdering 23­year­ old Irish woman Ashling Murphy. “Ire­ land, we are at war,” he posted after Puska’s sentencing.

His subsequent tweet highlighted the gravity of Thursday’s attack: “Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mental­ ly deranged non­national in Dublin, Ire­ land today... and there has been zero ac­ tion done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Make change or make way.”

On Friday, McGregor clarified his stance on the recent riots and empha­

sised his disapproval of the unrest: “I do not condone last night’s riots. I do not condone any attacks on our first respon­ ders in their line of duty. I do not con­ done looting and the damaging of shops.

“Last night’s scenes achieved nothing toward fixing the issues we face. I do un­ derstand frustrations however, and I do understand a move must be made to ensure the change we need is ushered in. And fast!

“I am in the process of arranging. Be­ lieve me I am way more tactical and I have backing. There will be change in Ireland, mark my words.” He highlighted recent murders and Thursday’s knife at­ tack before he added: “This is NOT Ire­ land’s future! If they do not act soon with their plan of action to ensure Ire­ land’s safety, I will.”

His comments provoked many reac­ tions, with some claiming they simply exacerbated the problem, but many of McGregor’s fan seized upon the political angle. “Conor Mcgregor for president,” was one comment, while another pas­ sionately wrote: “Run for office, Conor!!

You’re a warrior. Fight for your country.

She needs you now more than ever!”

18 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023 WE all crave our freedom, and a certain slithery serpent decided last week that captivity wasn’t quite his cup of tea and broke free into the world.

Although that may sound like the storyline of an inspiring Dis­ ney film, local residents in Tilburg, the Netherlands, per­ haps didn’t see it quite that way, as police described the runaway as ‘extremely ven­

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Escaped snake omous’.

Fear spread through the city, and police warned residents to stay indoors and under no cir­ cumstances attempt to ensnare the serpent. As if anybody was planning that one.

Police in Tilburg explained

that they were alerted by the owner who said that “he was missing a snake.” There was subsequently a wanted poster issued, complete with a mugshot of the coiled green mamba and titled by police: ‘The snake is very dangerous’.

However, in a shocking, and somewhat amusing turn of events, it has been discovered that the oh so feared creature actually never left his home.

The escaped snake had even made national news in the Netherlands, despite media competition from a historic election, and authorities had deployed sniffer dogs and snake experts in vain for days.

NEWS

As residents cowered in their homes in panic of a surprise at­ tack, on Friday, November 24, a phone call was received from the owner who informed au­ thorities that he had found the snake behind a plaster wall in his home.

Well, all’s well that ends well as they say! Does anybody else feel slightly sorry for the snake?

WANTED!

Poland’s cut-price coal World’s hottest chip

BLACK FRIDAY bargains spread to Poland this year with the publicly­owned Polish Mining Group (PGG) slashing €46 off every ton ordered online.

Poland is the most coal­dependent coun­ try in Europe, using nationally­mined fossil fuel to generate 70 per cent of its electricity and to heat approximately one­third of its homes.

It also produces more hard, compact and carbon­rich anthracite than any other Euro­ pean Union country and the PGG saw coal prices climb after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Prices would again ordinarily increase as the cold weather sets in, but this year they have fallen instead, and prompted the PGG’s Black Friday incentive.

Last year Polish households began to build up supplies of coal, prepared to pay higher prices to avoid shortages during the

energy crisis triggered by the Russian inva­ sion. Instead, 2022’s winter was unexpect­ edly mild, leaving dealers with unsold stocks.

“The market is now saturated and at most the PGG is probably selling about a third of its production,” a supplier from Silesia, Poland’s principal coal­producing region, told the Portal Samorządowy news service.

By the end of June this year, Poland had coal stocks of 3.3 million tons, more than doubling the 1.5 million tons in hand during the same period in 2022, according to fig­ ures from the country’s Industrial Develop­ ment Agency (ARP).

Despite the country’s reliance on coal, the Polish government as well as local authori­ ties are encouraging households to increase energy efficiency in their homes, improve in­ sulation and phase out polluting heating sys­ tems using coal.

THE HOT­CHIP Company was founded in the Czech Repub­ lic in 2019 with the simple concept of creating tortilla chips from the hottest pep­ pers in the world.

Simple concept and simple customers who were daft enough to take the HOT­CHIP Challenge saw sales soar and by the end of 2020, the com­ pany started to export its products to Slovakia, Ger­ many, Austria, France and Denmark.

The growth has continued with the chips finding their way to the UK and also the USA, but whilst the company suggests that no matter how

Credit: HOT-CHIP Company

Would you take the HOT-CHIP Challenge?

painful the heat may be, the chillis are actually good for you, certain health authori­ ties disagree.

HOT­CHIP packaging is a coffin shaped box with a pic­ ture of a fiery chilli which contains just one chip and costs just under €10.

In the UK, everyone knew someone who insisted on or­ dering one of the two hottest Indian curries, the Phaal or Vindaloo just to prove how macho they were and it ap­ pears that the same has been happening with these chips.

There are reports that health authorities in France, Germany and Italy are seri­ ously considering banning the import of these snacks and even the manufacturers do warn that they are not suitable for children, preg­ nant women or people sensi­ tive to capsaicin (the compo­ nent that makes chillis burn).

It should be noted that the company does have other products which are not as fiery as this tortilla chip.

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WITH less than a year until the much­anticipated Olympics in Paris, the city’s transport infras­ tructure finds itself fraught with problems and teeming with frustrated commuters and disgruntled tourists.

In a candid revelation on the Quotidien talk show aired on TMC TV, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, acknowledged

30 November - 6 December 2023

EWN 19

Olympics shadow Camembert boxes ticked that while the city is gearing up for the Games with its dazzling infrastructure, two thorns per­ sistently prick at the side, trans­ port and the issue of home­ lessness.

“We’ll have the Games in­

Hoover Table 2023

THE Hoover Table competition is so­called because of the fa­ mous Invisible Guest Dinner given by Herbert Hoover in 1920 in New York, during which guests were served only rice, potatoes and cocoa. The contestants, all young people from the Cookery School in Kraków, were tasked with preparing a three­course meal using these obligatory ingredients.

The finals of the competition took place on November 13 and the jury consisted exclusively of donors: American and Polish companies, which once again showed their support for the Hoover Table campaign. Their task was to evaluate not only the taste and appearance of the dishes themselves, but also their presentation, the way they were served and the involvement of all team members.

The winning team was ‘Fiorentina’, led by the restaurant’s chef Robert Koczwara. The winning dishes consisted of a starter of baked potato with the bryndza sheep milk cheese and smoked trout, main course: spinach risotto with chanterelles and parmigiano reggiano, and dessert: a chocolate cake with chocolate glaze and hot plums.

Also deserving of congratulations is the Fiorentina restaurant team, whose commitment led their team to victory. However, all the young people from this special school have gained anoth­ er new experience: culinary skills they can use in the future.

frastructure ready, but there are two things for which we will not be ready,” she con­ fessed, pointing directly at the elephant in the room.

Transport, in particular, emerges as a labyrinth of chal­ lenges. “We’re still grappling with daily transport woes, struggling to attain the comfort and punctuality craved by Parisians,” she admitted with a furrowed brow.

“There are pockets where the transport won’t be up to speed.”

Transport Minister Clement Beaune, a close confidant of President Emmanuel Macron, has joined the chorus of disap­ proval.

In a scathing remark on so­ cial media, he pointed out Hi­ dalgo’s conspicuous absence from crucial committee meet­ ings discussing the city’s trans­ port infrastructure.

“Mrs Hidalgo is not there, does not participate in work meetings but has an opinion for others. What respect she has for our public officials and for Parisians!” he exclaimed.

EUROPEAN UNION recy­ cling regulations have not succeeded in removing Camembert from its dis­ tinctive matchwood box.

French cheesemakers were aghast when a closer look at the small print in directives on streamlining and optimising waste management suggested that Camembert could no longer be ripened and sold in wooden boxes.

This process gives the cheese its creamy texture and recognisable smell, but wood is difficult to re­ cycle sustainably. At the same time, transferring Camembert to problem­ free plastic containers would result in an uniden­ tifiable ‘sweaty and flab­ by’ product, cheesemak­ ers complained.

“Packaging them in plas­ tic would be a gustatory and environmental aber­ ration,” declared Laurence Sailliet, a French Euro­MP belonging to the People’s Party, the biggest group in the European parliament.

Photo credit: CC/Bobby Lightspeed

NEWS

CAMEMBERT: No plastic packaging for Controlled Designation of Origin cheeses.

“Europe must know how to protect the envi­ ronment, but never to the detriment of the specific characteristics of its mem­ ber states,” she added.

Such was the outraged outcry that the EU’s Envi­ ronment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius had to pledge beforehand that Brussels would ensure that raw­milk, non­indus­ trialised Cambembert cheeses bearing the Con­ trolled Designation of Ori­

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

gin label would still be sold in the familiar round box.

As expected, the Euro­ pean MPs November 22 voted to permit the matchwood boxes for Camembert as well as Pont l’Eveque and Mont d’Or. “We have saved our Camemberts,” said re­ lieved French free­trade Renew Europe legislator Valerie Hayer after the vote.

20 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

AS part of an annual tradition dating back 76 years, a tree that has been felled in a forest in Norway will soon be on display in Lon­ don’s Trafalgar Square.

Grown in the Nordmarka forest located to the north of Oslo, the 62­feet­tall spruce will now be shipped to England. It will subse­ quently be installed and decorated with traditional Norwegian strings and lights before being unveiled on December 7 in the En­ glish capital’s lighting ceremony.

King Haakon VII of Norway was exiled in London with his gov­ ernment in 1940 after Germany invaded their country, but he con­ tinued to broadcast messages to his homeland via the BBC. In recognition of the support given to them during the Second World War, the nation has gifted a fir tree to the UK annually since 1947.

The official tree felling was presided over by Anne Lindboe, the mayor of Oslo. Accompanied by the British Ambassador Jan Thompson, and the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Patricia McAllis­ ter, the three took part in cutting the fir tree down.

Another tree has already been put in place near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The 40­foot Sitka spruce arrived from Northumberland’s Kielder Forest and was decorated with Christ­ mas lights after being placed in position by workmen using a crane.

IN a bizarre turn of events, a 74­year­old man in southern Germany found himself at the centre of an unexpected delivery mix­up after ordering a kitchen appliance online.

Instead of the eagerly awaited kitchen gadget, the man was startled to discover that the package contained several grams of marihuana and hashish. The peculiar incident, disclosed by the po­ lice on November 24, highlights the unintended consequences of a shipping mishap that left both

The minister’s action outraged opposition.

delays on all connections be­ tween Rome and southern Italy.

However, opposition politicians were unhappy, “Not everyone can afford to stop a train. I find Lollobrigi­

da’s behaviour arrogant and undignified,” criticised the leader of the opposition, Elly Schlein, who has asked him to appear in Parliament to explain himself.

Italy’s former prime minis­

Unexpected delivery the recipient and authorities puzzled. The mix­up occurred when two packages, destined for differ­ ent recipients, became entangled during the ship­ ping process.

The elderly gentleman, anticipating the arrival of his newly ordered kitchen appliance, was taken

NEWS

Minister stops train photo: Shutterstock

Traditional Xmas gift

ITALY’S agriculture minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, stopped a high­speed train last Tuesday to get off at an unplanned station to attend an inauguration on time. This act has outraged the opposi­ tion, which has called for him to appear before Parliament.

The train, which was two hours late, made an im­ promptu stop on the out­ skirts of Rome so that Lollob­ rigida, the brother­in­law of Prime Minister Giorgia Mel­ oni, could get off, according to an Italian newspaper.

“The stop at Ciampino has not caused any further de­ lays for passengers, no im­ pact on traffic and no addi­ tional costs for the company,” Trenitalia said in a statement, explaining the technical failure that caused

euroweeklynews.com

aback when he opened the package to find a stash of marihuana and hashish. Faced with this unex­ pected and unrequested delivery, the bewildered recipient promptly contacted the local police to re­ port the unusual discovery.

In a twist that adds intrigue to the story, the po­

ter and current leader of the centrist Italia Viva party, Mat­ teo Renzi, said that if the facts are confirmed, he will, “ask for Lollobrigida’s resig­ nation in parliament. Minis­ ters can use state vehicles but they cannot stop the trains of all citizens,” Renzi said, calling the action, “an unprecedented abuse of power.”

2.7 million The gigabytes of data created on the internet every minute.

lice have chosen to keep details about the specific kitchen appliance under wraps ‘for tactical and in­ vestigative reasons’. The nature of the ordered item remains undisclosed, leaving room for specu­ lation about the type of appliance involved in this peculiar mix­up. As authorities delve into the inves­ tigation, crucial details about who the intended re­ cipient of the drugs was and whether they inadver­ tently received a new kitchen appliance instead remain shrouded in mystery.

22 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

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NEWSDESK

NEWS ACROSS THE REGIONS FROM THE PEOPLE'S PAPER WINNING STREAK ALICANTE is on a winning streak, and the accolades just keep pouring in!

In a recent study by Pleni­ tud, the energy company, Ali­ cante emerges as the beacon of fresh air in Spain, boasting the best air quality among the country’s capitals.

It proudly stands as the lone city staying beneath the parti­ cle concentration limits en­ dorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

But that’s not all ­ Alicante has captured the hearts of travel enthusiasts.

According to Airbnb’s holi­ day rentals, it is the city that tops the wish list for Spaniards itching to explore new hori­ zons in 2023.

The allure of Alicante tran­ scends borders as British Air­ ways elevates it to the coveted ‘top­10’ list of the best cities worldwide for family travel.

This recognition comes hot on the heels of a meticulous analysis of Trip Advisor results, painting Alicante as a family­ friendly paradise.

Picture­perfect air quality, a dream destination for the per­ fect family­friendly haven.

COSTA DEL SOL

AXARQUIA

SUNFLOWER MOVEMENT ECHEVERRIA SKATEPARK Photo (councillors): Estepona Town Hall

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

CUDECA: Provides care for people with cancer and other advanced diseases.

THROUGH the micro­donation cam­ paign ‘Movimiento Girasol: Energía para añadir Vida a los Días’ (Sun­ flower Movement: Energy to add Life to the Days), Cudeca, a non­ profit organisation that provides care for people with cancer and oth­ er advanced diseases, aims to raise €250,000.

Estepona Town Hall has asked for the cooperation of the public with

this initiative, in which people can contribute through a system of mi­ cro­donations. The funds raised are to provide two home medical care teams, which will provide assistance to about 400 families in their homes.

The donation campaign will be ac­ tive for the next three months, until January 31. All the information on how to make donations for this campaign can be found on the web­

site www.movimientogirasol.org.

Rafael Gómez, coordinator of Cud­ eca’s assistance teams, explained that in 2022 alone, Cudeca provided assistance to a total of 1,771 people directly, supporting a total of 2,400 family members.

Cudeca’s medical attention and care is completely free of charge and, since 1992, more than 18,000 patients have been cared for.

THE construction of the Huerta Julián Skatepark in Rincon de la Victoria is a reality thanks to European funding.

As announced by the town hall on Monday, November 27, the planned 1,200 m² Igna­ cio Echeverria Skatepark is de­ signed to allow the practice of skateboarding, BMX riding or rollerskating.

It will comprise two large differentiated and connected areas, a 120 m² low­level bowl area and a quarters or street area above ground level. This should create a socio­cultural and recreational space as well as promoting culture and ac­ tivity, they added.

In a tweet, the town hall ex­ plained that the project was in­ cluded in Thematic Objective 9: ‘Promoting equality, health and social inclusion’, specifical­ ly in Action Line 6, which de­ fines the: ‘Creation of spaces that promote culture and the arts among young people’.

“Included in the Sustainable and Integrated Urban Devel­ opment Strategy of Rincon de la Victoria, ‘EDUSI Rincon es Vi­ da’, the project is 80 per cent co­financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF),” the town hall con­ cluded.

COSTA CALIDA

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

MALLORCA

NATURE offers breathtaking sights that captivate be­ holders. In the Region of Murcia, there are many areas where both locals and visitors can enjoy the beauty of natural phenomena that fascinate spectators and de­ light lovers of the natural world.

Aguilas­based photographer Mario Navarro recently shared a series of posts on his social media accounts showcasing how the coast of Aguilas transformed into a ‘magical’ place recently.

Navarro skilfully captured breaking waves taking on a vibrant, bluish hue.

The mesmerising effect that created this phe­ nomenon stems from bioluminescence, a natural chemical phenomenon where living organisms emit light. Various deep­sea dwellers such as squid, fish, crustaceans, and algae produce light to attract prey or evade predators.

TWO elderly grandparents have married each other in a heart­ warming ceremony after meeting in Hondon de las Frailes and falling in love.

Terry Brian Dawkins, 85, met Rhoda Hazel Rothwell, 83, and married each other at the Dream Centre, in Hondon, Alicante, on November 19.

The service was witnessed by all their friends from the Acorn In­ ternational Church.

He just seemed so nice, right from the time I met him, and I thought, “Oh, he’s a lovely fellow,” said Rhoda.

Mrs Dawkins walked down the aisle to ‘All of Me’ by John Leg­ end. The newlyweds then exchanged rings and vows before their families and friends.

The founder of the Dream Centre, Steve Laidlow, said: “This is exactly the reason this building exists. It is a community centre that helps the local people to learn, grow, care and yes, love one anoth­ er.”

THE correct collective word for a number of Santa Claus’ is a Sleigh and this is what you can expect to see in Palma on Saturday December 2.

In what has become an annual event supported by the Palma Council and organised by Linedance Balear expect to see upwards of 1,000 people male and fe­ male dressed as Santa Claus at 6pm in the Paseo del Borne.

The event is led by a collection of dance instructors and will without doubt be the largest gathering of San­ tas on the island all enjoying an evening of music and dancing with a good purpose as donations will be col­ lected for a local charity.

The only word of warning one might have is that if very young children are taken to see the event, there is a chance that the sight of so many Santas in one place could shatter their illusions.

NATURE’S GLOW

NEVER TOO LATE SLEIGH OF SANTAS

+34 951 386 161 • www.euroweeklynews.com

26 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

NORWAY Be prepared WHILE emphasising that Norwegians lived in a safe and stable society, the government pointed out that the country was vulnerable as it depended on power, water supply and the internet. It was vital for all households in Norway to ensure they had a store of basic supplies, including food and fuel, that could support them for at least three days “if a disaster or crisis occurred.”

Test case NEW but mild Covid variants have infected thousands of Norwegians in recent weeks with previously quiet vaccination centres filling up and a sevenfold rise in sales of self-testing kits. The Health ministry changed the status of Covid to ‘no longer especially dangerous’ on November 22 and doctors are now saying that for most people it was not necessary to test for the virus.

SWEDEN

euroweeklynews.com

EURO PRESS DENMARK

Vietnam visitor CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK met Vietnam’s vicepresident, VoThi Anh Xuan, during her recent visit to Denmark. Speaking in Copenhagen on November 22, the prince said Xuan's visit would contribute to the consolidation of the relations between Denmark and Vietnam, while working to implement agreements within the framework of their Green Strategic Partnership.

IRELAND Join the club IRELAND’S government is submitting a formal application to join the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) as an associate member. Research minister Simon Harris announced that CERN will consider the application in mid-December and declared, “I really want to thank my department officials for all of their work.

We are on the cusp of something significant.”

Debs’ delight

VIETNAM VISIT: Vice-president VoThi Anh Xuan with Crown Prince Frederik.

Photo credit: cdnchinhphu-vn

GERMANY

EUROPEAN PRESS

FRANCE

DEBS or Grads are formal balls for school leavers and each year Debs Ireland organises a search to find Ireland’s Best Dressed Debutante, with the list now whittled down to 10 finalists before voting begins. This year’s overall winner, selected by Debs Ireland, Assets Model Agency and website votes, will win a holiday for two to New York and an Assets Model Agency contract.

PORTUGAL

Losing battle

Snakes alive

Olympic wrath

Pricey street

TESLA employees in Sweden are on strike, the first time this has happened to the company anywhere in the world. The country has one of Europe’s strongest labour movements and as more than 90 per cent of workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements supported by employees and employers, observers predict that the company has picked a fight it cannot win.

THE German Association for Herpetology and Terrarium Science (DGHT) named the endangered common European adder, the only snake found beyond the Arctic Circle, as its ‘Reptile of the Year’.

Adders are severely threatened in Germany as they are at risk from climate change, the DGHT said, since they thrive in colder environments and should be protected by conservation measures.

PARIS booksellers are furious about plans to remove the same stalls they have occupied since the 19th century for the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. In a trial run, irate stallholders looked on as cranes lifted their kiosks, with one telling a news source that the Olympic Games would succeed in making them disappear, something that two wars could not achieve.

RUA GARRETT in Chiado (Lisbon), where yearly rentals for shops and restaurants cost €1,500 per year per square metre, is the country’s most expensive street according to the Main Streets Across the World survey by consultants Cushman & Wakefield’s. Rua Garrett was ranked 29th worldwide, with first place going to New York’s Fifth Avenue rentals at €20,384 per square metre per year.

Written words

Russian links

Heaven-sent

Scoot along

THE 39 volumes of Swedish Academy’s dictionary have just been sent to the printers, 140 years after work on their 333,111 pages first began. Not only will the earliest tomes eventually need to be revised to include modern terms but only 200 sets of the multiple volumes will be printed, primarily for use by researchers and linguists, although the text will also be available online.

GERMAN publisher Hoffmann und Campe announced it will stop selling books by Hubert Seipel, a leading author, filmmaker and an expert on Russia. Information arising from the Cyprus Confidential investigation into offshore services, revealed Seipel had received at least €600,000 in undisclosed payments from companies linked to Alexei Mordashov, an oligarch close to Putin.

STRASBOURG’s fire department, called out after smoke was seen coming from a 50-centimetre diameter hole in the roof of a car parked on the outskirts of the city, decided it was caused by a meteorite. There was no trace of whatever had pierced the bodywork and fuel tank ‘either because the object was so small we couldn’t find it, or because it disintegrated on impact’.

SIXTY-NINE per cent of electric scooter users in Portugal are men, most of whom use them to get to work and college or as a complement to public transport, technology company Bolt found.

Average age is between 18 and 34, which Bolt saw as positive, since it demonstrated that mobility was increasingly adopted by more people who were also using them for longer journeys.

FINLAND

BELGIUM

ITALY Whistle stop FRANCESCO LOLLOBRIGIDA, brother-in-law of Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni, faced criticism for ordering a Naples-bound high-speed train which was already running late to make an unscheduled stop after it was delayed again south of Rome. The minister and his entourage alighted in Ciampino where a waiting car drove them to Caivano near Napoles for an official engagement.

Pope speaks GENDER-BASED violence took the lives of 50 women this year in Italy and the murder of 22year-old student Giulia Cecchettin by a possessive boyfriend earlier in November demonstrated the need to educate men in forming healthy relationships, Pope Francis said. “To communicate is to form people. To communicate is to form society,” he declared while speaking to journalists.

THE NETHERLANDS

Cost conscious

Naming names

TIGER mosquitoes from Asia, have spread throughout the Netherlands apart from the most northerly provinces, food standards agency NVWA said. Stop Invasieve Exoten campaigners explained the mosquitos were often found in used tyres, suggesting drivers had inadvertently brought them back home from holidays in southern Europe where they are becoming endemic.

HIGHER food prices, which have risen by around 20 per cent in two years, are influencing both consumer choices in Finland and cashflow for the food supply chain, a recent survey found.

Seventy-two per cent of respondents said price was a factor in their purchasing decisions while a preference for domestic products was a major consideration for 46 per cent of consumers.

LAST year 1,120 people changed their surname in Belgium in a long expensive procedure, although a bill put forward by the country’s Green parties has now been approved by the Parliamentary Justice Committee. Under the new law, everybody will be given the right to change their surname once in a lifetime if they switch to their other parent’s family name or a combination of both.

Going Dutch

Record winter

E-tandem launch

FINAVIA, Finland’s airport operator, has opened 24 new direct flights to more than 130 global destinations throughout the winter months as well as numerous new international connections.

Finavia is also seeing record numbers for Lapland flights with airlines offering an additional 240,000 additional passenger seats this winter, of which 150,000 were allocated to Rovaniemi Airport.

THE e-bike and electric scooter-share company Pony announced plans to launch its tandem ebike, the Double Pony, in Brussels early next year.

The world’s first and only two-seater e-bike, which is designed to resemble a motorcycle, has been specifically engineered for shared use enabling to people to travel comfortably for up to 100 kilometres at speeds of 25 kilometre per hour.

Buzz off

AFTER the UK left the European Union, universities in the Netherlands seized the opportunity of attracting more students from the EU and elsewhere by offering more courses in English. If a proposed parliamentary bill goes through, this will require universities to conduct fewer classes in English and oblige them to switch most of their coursework back to Dutch.

euroweeklynews.com

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT CONSPIRACY theorists are every­ where. Wearing my columnist hat, I have over the years, researched and in­ vestigated large numbers of these the­ ories; from Queen Elizabeth I being a man, to Area 51, the assassination of Kennedy, the death of Princess Diana and the Twin Towers attack etc. One thing I endeavour to do is to always re­ tain an open mind.

This can give you a clear advantage over these theorists ­ it is the one asset they most definitely do not possess!

Once a CT has its teeth into something, irrespective of any proof to the con­ trary, they are virtually impossible to shake off. With this in mind I thought I would delve a little further into the psy­ che of the compulsive theorists and what makes them actually tick.

According to one school of psychia­ try, the paranoia that drives individuals to constantly scan the world for dan­ gers and imagines the worst from oth­ ers, is a throwback to Neanderthal times. To mitigate threats from other tribes, these ancient humans needed to be suspicious of everything and every­ one, merely to survive.

30 November - 6 December 2023

CONSPIRACY The doctors also reached the conclu­ sion that many theorists were people who retained manipulative unusual patters of thought, practised Machi­ avellianism, were insecure, lonely or stressed, which made them more in­ clined to believe in conspiracies and the supernatural.

These suspicious people are of course not always in the wrong. Al­ though some of their theories, ie that the earth is flat or the Moon landing didn’t take place ­ are laughable; there have been a number of instances where they were proven to be correct.

That the FBI was spying on John Lennon (True). Project Sunshine, where the US government was ac­ cused of stealing dead bodies to test for radiation after a nuclear explosion (True). That as far back as 1950, tobac­ co companies were fully aware smok­ ing was lethal and could cause cancer (True). That you can be spied on through your laptop camera (True ­ and worrying!).

On the other hand, some of their theories can be highly dangerous.

Those who believed the Covid pan­

demic didn’t exist could, if they were in charge, have been responsible for the death of millions. In 2016 the personal mail of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager was hacked. He was found to have ordered large num­ bers of pizzas.

The conspiracy theorists decided that these orders were a code for a child sex ring run by members of the Democratic Party. The shop who supplied the piz­ zas was subsequently attacked by a man with a semi­automatic rifle! It was a miracle no one was killed. It ultimate­ ly transpired that Podesta really like pizzas!

All I can say to the conspiracy theo­ rists is keep believing what your heart and mind tells you. But please don’t pa­ tronise and pour scorn on others who hold a different point of view.

What about turning your efforts to the biggest conspiracy theory of all; that we are merely figments of our own imagination? Now that is one I would truly like your views on!

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.

EWN 27

Sunken secrets STEAMSHIP: The ship’s cargo has ignited speculation.

IN a captivating discovery beneath the depths of the Baltic Sea, divers stumbled upon the remnants of a German steamship, the Karlsruhe, which met its demise at the end of the Second World War. The ship’s cargo, resting 290 feet below the surface near the Polish seaside town of Ustka, has ignited excitement and specula­ tion.

Rumours of a potential treasure trove have emerged, suggesting that the crates on board may house the long­lost 18th­ century furnishings of the legendary Amber Room, plundered by German sol­ diers from a Russian royal palace.

Image: Atlantic Wreck Divers / Facebook

FEATURE

The Baltictech dive team, led by Tomasz Stachura, played a pivotal role in the discovery after more than a year of determined under­ water exploration.

The shipwreck, coinci­ dentally sharing its name with a Second World War German warship found off Norway recently, adds an intriguing layer to this his­ torical puzzle.

Both vessels, named Karl­ sruhe, pay homage to a city in Germany, intertwining their stories in the annals of wartime history.

If the crates on board the sunken Karlsruhe indeed contain the lost furnishings, this discovery could mark the unravelling of a decades­old enigma.

FINANCE CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement included options to sell the state’s 38.6 per cent holding NatWest which was bailed out during the 2008 financial crisis. The government will explore the possibility of offering the shares to the public, unlike pre­ vious sales which were limited to financial institutions.

Home-grown ZARA, owned by Inditex, and Banco Santander were again the only Spanish companies present in Best Global Brands 2023, which lists the 100 most valuable global brands. Zara moved up four places to be ranked in 43rd position, while Santander, ranked 77th, once more retained its title as the Eurozone’s leading bank.

Jobs cut CAPITA, the London­based outsourcing specialist which collects the BBC’s television li­ cence fees, intends to dismiss up to 900 staff in a move that will enable it to save an annual £60 million (€68.8 million). The move comes while Capita is re­ covering from a £25 million (€28.7 million) Russian ran­ somware attack in March.

Cap fits BRUSSELS announced that the Spanish government can contin­ ue to cap energy bills for a fur­ ther six months until June 2024.

Although this was due to be phased out at the end of 2023 Madrid argued that despite the easing of the energy crisis over the past year, commodity prices were still ‘highly uncertain’.

VAT trap MARK WAINWRIGHT, director and co­owner of luxury jew­ eller Boodles, condemned the government’s decision to end VAT­free shopping in 2021 as a ‘spectacular own goal’. It was unhelpful for retailers and had hit tourist spending on luxury items, hotel stays and eating out as well as luxury items, Wainwright told the Times.

STAT OF WEEK

investment in Endesa by principal shareholder, Italy-based Enel, which foresees a 10 per increase in Spain’s demand for electricity over the next three years.

€9 billion

Banco Popular let-down

BANCO POPULAR share­ holders and creditors learnt on November 22 that they will not receive any compensation.

The European Single Resolution Board (SRB) approved the rescue and acquisition of the failing Madrid­based bank by Santander for a symbolic €1 six years ago. Although shareholders and some bondholders took losses, the deal avoided the use of public money while maintaining financial sta­ bility.

On June 7, 2017, Banco Popular had a stock mar­

Photo credit: RTVE.es

Special offer

euroweeklynews.com • 30 Nov - 6 Dec 2023

EMILIO CAMACHO: Banco Popular president in June 2017.

ket value of approximate­ ly €1.3 billion, while around €1.9 billion of sub­ ordinated and convertible bonds were written off.

Nevertheless, both

Linda Hall AN Abu Dhabi­backed investment fund hopes to take control of The Telegraph ‘within weeks’.

Lloyds Banking Group put the pub­ lishing group’s parent company, Bermu­ da­based B.UK owned by the Barclay family, into liquidation in June with £1.2 billion (€1.38 billion) in unpaid debts.

The sale process started in October.

Now RedBird IMI, funded chiefly by Abu Dhabi royalty and headed by for­ mer CNN chief Jeff Zucker, hopes to halt the auction of the Telegraph newspa­ pers and Spectator by financing the debt repayment.

“We will continue to cooperate fully with the government and the regula­ tor,” RedBird maintained, adding that any transfer of ownership would be subject to regulatory review.

Off the boil

LE CREUSET luxury cook­ ware’s UK sales dipped by al­ most 20 per cent to £47.9 million (€54.9 million) in 2022.

Pre­tax profits fell to ap­ proximately £2 million (€2.3 million) compared with £3.5 million (€4.01 million) in 2021 when the company enjoyed significant growth as people turned to cooking from scratch during lockdown.

Le Creuset UK’s managing director Nick Ryder attribut­ ed the decline to “changing spending patterns” and in­ creased costs in the post­ Covid world.

“The market we operate in has seen a decrease in spend,” Ryder said.

Brussels and Madrid wel­ comed the deal as a test of bail­in rules, with in­ vestors and creditors bearing the brunt in a bank rescue.

In 2020, the SRB argued that Banco Popular share­ holders and creditors were not entitled to com­ pensation as they would not have received better treatment had the bank gone into liquidation.

Shareholders including Mexican businessman An­ tonio del Valle, lodged an appeal against this deci­ sion with the EU’s General Court. This has now been turned down but he and other shareholders and in­ vestors were given two months and 10 days to raise an appeal to the Eu­ ropean Court of Justice.

“The Telegraph’s operations will be solely managed by RedBird Capital, Abu Dhabi’s US private equity partner in RedBird IMI,” the statement continued, stressing that editorial matters would

be ‘distanced’ from the Gulf state.

Redbird would provide a £600 million (€689.5 million) loan, secured against the Telegraph and Spectator, plus ‘a loan of a similar amount’ secured against other Barclay family businesses and commercial interests.

Meanwhile, Lloyds is weighing up whether the RedBird repayment plan complies with anti­money laundering and Know Your Client regulations.

Should no problems be detected, the bank would have to return the publica­ tions to the Barclay family, regardless of their plans to sell on the assets.

A rival consortium headed by hedge fund chief, Sir Paul Marshall, has called on the government to intervene “to protect press freedom” and prevent Barclays’ debts from facilitating an Abu Dhabi takeover of the Telegraph.

State pension boost

Making a move

Telegraph uncertainty Photo credit: Flickr/Lesley Parker

BUSINESS EXTRA

28

DAILY TELEGRAPH: The newpaper’s original Fleet Street location.

CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement brought good news for pen­ sioners with state pensions increasing by 8.5 per cent.

This remains in line with the normal lev­ el of earnings, ignoring the impact of bonuses on wage figures which would have meant a lower increment of 7.8 per cent.

The full new pension will rise from £203.85 (€233.95) a week to £221.20 (€253.80) or an annual £11,502 (€13,197).

Hunt’s decision meant that the ‘triple lock’ continues and pensions will increase each April in line with whichever is higher between the previous September’s Con­ sumer Prices Index inflation figure, the av­ erage increase in UK wages or 2.5 per cent.

Despite earlier speculation that Hunt was planning to slash Inheritance Tax by half from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, this failed to materialise.

BIG FOUR accountancy firm EY is considering a move from its More London head­ quarters near London Bridge.

The company’s 25­year lease is due to expire in 2026 although UK media sources said that no firm decision has yet been taken.

The review was still at an early stage and would take into account the 10­storey building’s office occupancy levels, the same sources added.

The company had already adopted a hybrid work policy in 2021 and EY was currently “examining its options” now that working from home has revolutionised professional activities.

Crypto control FORTY­EIGHT countries signed up to the Organisation for Economic Co­operation and Development (OECD) crypto­asset reporting framework (CARF) by 2027.

These countries, which include the EU, the UK, Gibraltar and the US, will integrate CARF into do­ mestic law and activate exchange agreements by 2027. The agree­ ment recognised that ‘timely and consistent implementation of CARF’ was necessary to ensure global tax transparency achieve­ ments were not eroded by the growing global crypto­asset mar­ kets.

“This is a major step forward,” Mathias Cormann, the OECD’s sec­ retary­general, said. “It marks an­ other milestone towards a widespread and co­ordinated ap­ proach to combatting tax evasion.”

Good as gold GOLD is once again providing a refuge in difficult times.

It reached its maximum price of $2,063 (€1,896) per ounce during the Covid pandemic in August 2020, and gold’s price has climbed by 9 per cent following the Hamas attack on Israel on October.

It now fetches $1,991(€1,830) per ounce, prompting experts to predict that it will at least maintain this level owing to the Middle East conflict.

Unsurprisingly, central banks are the best customers for gold, with the People’s Bank of China alone making purchases for 10 consecu­ tive months, acquiring 217 tons be­ tween November 2022 and Au­ gust 2023.

Dividend promise INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP (IAG) pledged to resume paying dividends once its books and in­ vestment plans were ‘secure’.

The company, which owns Iberia, British Airways, Vueling and Aer Lingus, distributed €4.1 billion in dividends and buybacks be­ tween 2016 and 2019 but has not paid shareholders since 2019, hav­ ing withdrawn its final dividend owing to Covid. The company’s losses reached €2.97 billion in 2021 but recovered in 2022 with a posi­ tive result of €1.225 billon.

IAG is now targeting a medium­ term operating margin of between 12 and 15 per cent, compared with 13.5 per cent over the first three quarters of 2023.

FINANCE

30 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com

LONDON - FTSE 100

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

CLOSING PRICES 27 NOVEMBER

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

COMPANY

3I Group

2.182,00

+3,00

+0,14%

100,14K

InterContinental

Abrdn

168,25

-0,55

-0,33%

219,26K

Intermediate Capital

Admiral Group

2.718,0

+52,0

+1,95%

62,06K

Intertek

3.984,0

-5,0

-0,12%

7,47K

Anglo American

2.204,5

-12,0

-0,54%

114,87K

ITV

61,62

+0,32

+0,52%

189,88K

Antofagasta

1.422,50

+6,00

+0,42%

24,85K

J Sainsbury

272,55

+1,00

+0,37%

169,96K

Ashtead Group

4.777,0

-2,0

-0,04%

53,05K

Johnson Matthey

1.579,5

+33,5

+2,17%

95,91K

Associated British Foods

2.378,0

+6,0

+0,25%

109,32K

Land Securities

626,60

+0,60

+0,10%

22,13K

AstraZeneca

10.071,0

-112,0

-1,10%

88,61K

Legal & General

229,20

+0,20

+0,09%

1,37M

167,70K

Lloyds Banking

42,30

-0,18

-0,44%

3,33M

8.855,3

-4,0

-0,04%

14,92K

Auto Trader Group Plc

710,20

+9,60

+1,37%

PRICE(P)

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

6.144,0

-6,0

-0,10%

12,23K

1.567,50

-3,00

-0,19%

172,96K

1.15179

0.86816

Units per €

US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0946 Japan yen (JPY)........................................163.19 Switzerland franc (CHF) ...........................0.9642 Denmark kroner (DKK) .............................7.4554 Norway kroner (NOK) ...............................11.700

424,32

-0,40

-0,09%

239,65K

London Stock Exchange

B&M European Value Retail 548,88

+4,00

+0,73%

142,72K

Melrose Industries

514,60

-2,40

-0,46%

87,70K

currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914

BAE Systems

1.062,50

-5,50

-0,52%

136,51K

Mondi

1.352,23

-7,00

-0,51%

42,96K

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

Barclays

141,40

-0,20

-0,14%

1,52M

National Grid

1.008,00

-1,00

-0,10%

251,18K

Barratt Developments

498,80

+3,80

+0,77%

157,54K

NatWest Group

206,40

+0,40

+0,19%

540,66K

7.800,0

+6,0

+0,08%

8,74K

+3,40

+0,59%

98,89K

Aviva

Berkeley

4.574,0

+12,0

+0,26%

4,16K

Next

BHP Group Ltd

2.437,00

-23,50

-0,95%

37,63K

Ocado

574,40

BP

472,10

-4,40

-0,92%

1,73M

Persimmon

1.259,5

+2,5

+0,20%

33,13K

89,36K

Phoenix

476,30

-0,70

-0,15%

114,92K

Prudential

916,80

-4,80

-0,52%

113,74K

British American Tobacco 2.552,0

-3,0

-0,12%

British Land Company

346,10

+0,60

+0,17%

249,00K

BT Group

122,45

+0,50

+0,41%

866,11K

Bunzl

2.979,0

+6,0

+0,20%

11,46K

Burberry Group

1.516,0

-10,5

-0,69%

43,68K

Carnival

1.008,5

+8,5

+0,85%

33,07K

Centrica

148,00

-0,20

-0,14%

613,85K

Coca Cola HBC AG

2.180,4

-0,6

-0,03%

31,49K

Reckitt Benckiser

5.412,0

+6,0

+0,11%

39,04K

Relx

3.061,50

+12,00

+0,39%

149,92K

Rentokil

450,90

-4,10

-0,90%

110,35K

Rightmove

541,80

+32,60

+6,40%

1,31M

Rio Tinto PLC

5.460,0

-26,0

-0,47%

103,08K

Rolls-Royce Holdings

238,90

-2,20

-0,91%

869,45K

Sage

1.121,50

+17,50

+1,58%

183,96K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.363,00

-5,00

-0,36%

0,62K

Schroders

400,0

-1,1

-0,27%

53,74K

Scottish Mortgage

712,90

+0,60

+0,08%

141,80K

Segro

813,60

+5,00

+0,62%

110,34K

Severn Trent

2.713,0

+7,0

+0,26%

16,76K

Shell

2.559,6

-35,0

-1,35%

506,83K

Smith & Nephew

1.025,19

+0,50

+0,05%

37,52K

Smiths Group

1.649,00

+3,00

+0,18%

12,17K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 9.248,0

+56,0

+0,61%

3,33K

SSE

1.819,00

-1,00

-0,06%

72,29K

St. James’s Place

657,60

-4,20

-0,64%

66,66K

Standard Chartered

669,00

+1,60

+0,24%

122,33K

Taylor Wimpey

127,45

+1,15

+0,91%

619,27K

Tesco

283,30

-0,50

-0,18%

1,75M

Tui

491,40

0,00

0,00%

70,95K

Compass

2.076,00

+6,00

+0,29%

66,77K

CRH

4.883,0

-28,0

-0,57%

32,23K

Croda Intl

4.561,0

+2,0

+0,04%

5,11K

DCC

5.352,0

+22,0

+0,41%

9,58K

Diageo

2.826,0

+2,0

+0,07%

131,72K

DS Smith

281,50

-0,70

-0,25%

111,37K

EasyJet

408,40

+2,90

+0,72%

193,97K

Experian

2.909,0

-2,0

-0,07%

46,77K

Ferguson

13.280,0

-55,0

-0,41%

1,04K

Flutter Entertainment

12.485,0

-135,0

-1,07%

23,39K

Fresnillo

551,60

+23,00

+4,35%

245,74K

Glencore

445,60

-2,65

-0,59%

731,75K

GSK plc

1.425,00

+2,40

+0,17%

278,71K

Halma

2.132,0

+8,0

+0,38%

35,28K

Hargreaves Lansdown

709,00

-0,20

-0,03%

78,68K

Hikma Pharma

1.754,50

-3,50

-0,20%

9,26K

Unilever

3.793,0

-7,0

-0,18%

124,62K

HSBC

607,10

-2,40

-0,39%

965,56K

United Utilities

1.110,00

+1,50

+0,14%

56,34K

IAG

153,87

+0,50

+0,33%

467,50K

Vodafone Group PLC

71,39

-0,33

-0,46%

2,00M

Imperial Brands

1.851,38

+13,00

+0,71%

85,92K

Whitbread

3.202,0

-13,0

-0,40%

46,54K

Informa

744,80

-1,60

-0,21%

40,37K

WPP

707,80

+1,00

+0,14%

49,63K

DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 27 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

95,95 164,42 265,46 189,97 220,00 247,36 144,90 48,36 58,57 51,67 339,15 310,70 193,41 155,18 43,96 152,50 153,54 282,54 101,87 377,43 107,64 151,38 224,38 177,54 547,10 37,41 254,30 20,85 156,06 96,06

+0,58 +0,63 +0,87 -1,34 +0,09 +1,35 +0,57 +0,28 +0,15 +0,27 +0,51 +1,50 +1,10 +0,05 +0,29 +1,68 +0,21 +0,61 +0,19 -0,42 -0,28 +0,36 +0,54 +1,46 +3,34 +0,06 +0,58 +0,16 +1,39 +0,99

+0,61% 1,06M +0,38% 936,61K +0,33% 661,92K -0,70% 24,04M +0,04% 2,31M +0,55% 981,57K +0,39% 3,86M +0,58% 7,92M +0,26% 4,74M +0,53% 1,68M +0,15% 460,10K +0,49% 1,26M +0,57% 1,07M +0,03% 1,80M +0,66% 13,03M +1,11% 3,35M +0,14% 3,50M +0,22% 1,22M +0,19% 3,14M -0,11% 9,38M -0,26% 2,44M +0,24% 2,12M +0,24% 1,86M +0,83% 399,20K +0,61% 1,13M +0,16% 6,77M +0,23% 1,62M +0,77% 4,32M +0,90% 4,66M +1,04% 5,44M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 27 NOVEMBER

COMPANY Most Advanced

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+19.91% +15.63% +14.08% +13.48% +12.27% +9.59% +8.58% +8.04% +7.93% +7.57% +7.47%

1.743M 15.62M 983,756 2.11M 10.973M 1.055M 25,119 576,727 438,844 473,808 27,401

-4.51% -4.10% -3.84% -3.57% -3.54% -3.34% -3.27% -3.14% -2.99% -2.60%

1.256M 490,167 174,627 227,797 88,021 1.111M 43,079 156,477 8.159M 259,374

Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. TAL Education Group Banco Macro S.A. Grupo Financiero Galicia S.A. YPF Sociedad Anónima Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. Mr Price Group Limited Central Puerto S.A. Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A. Pampa Energía S.A. Vodacom Group Limited

Most Declined Symbotic Inc. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation First Quantum Minerals Ltd. BYD Company Limited BYD Company Limited First Solar, Inc. Techtronic Industries Company Limited Panasonic Holdings Corporation Sea Limited Signet Jewelers Limited

‘

euroweeklynews.com

BUSINESS EXTRA Riders rights BRITAIN’S Supreme Court upheld previous judge­ ments by ruling Deliveroo riders are self­employed contractors without the right to collective negotia­ tions on pay and conditions.

The IWGB union, which has fought on the riders’ behalf since 2017 and claims they should be classed as em­ ployees, is considering chal­ lenging the decision under international law.

Big buildup TURNER and Flatiron, sub­ sidiaries of Spain’s ACS com­ pany, have won contracts totalling €1.3 billion in the US. The construction com­ panies will be responsible for the second phase of San Diego airport, a hospital in Georgia, an extension to the Johnson and Johnson build­ ing in Florida and an innova­ tion centre at the University of Texas.

30 November - 6 December 2023

Grangemouth blow

GRANGEMOUTH, Scotland’s only oil refinery, is to close.

Soaring energy costs com­ bined with a probable Labour victory next year had prompted the decision, Petroineos said.

Announcing its plans to cease refining, the joint ven­ ture between PetroChina and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos which runs the refinery said it would turn the installation into a fuel import terminal.

Grangemouth supplies most of the petrol and diesel

Photo credit: CC/tormentor4555

FINANCE

GRANGEMOUTH: Scotland’s only oil refinery due to lose in 2025.

Out of orbit

THE Lara Garcia family plan to sell their 33 per cent, €900 million holding in the Grupo Planeta publishing, education and audiovisual group.

The multinational reported revenues of €1.8 billion in 2022, with earnings of €350 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.

Planeta is owned by three branches of the Lara family and the Lara Garcias an­

nounced recently that they had engaged Morgan Stanley to carry out the opera­ tion.

Company sources declined to comment on the future Lara Garcia sale, but insiders pointed out that potential buyers would own only a minority holding while the re­ maining two­thirds of Grupo Planeta be­ longed to the Lara family who were com­ mitted to the group’s current strategy.

used in Scotland and the North of England but when processing ceases in 2025, both will depend on imports to cover their needs. Up to 500 jobs will also be lost.

Talking to a news source some weeks earlier, Petroi­ neos chairman Andrew Gardner warned that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s in­ tentions of banning new oil and gas projects in the North Sea would inevitably affect Grangemouth.

“We want to keep jobs and manufacturing here but Labour hasn’t understood that we need supplies,” Gardner warned in October.

“I need natural gas, ready, cheap and available as a feedstock,” he said.

Petroineos explained in an email which was sent to staff on November 22 that the Grangemouth plant would soon be unable to compete with “bigger, more modern and efficient refineries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.”

EWN 31

New models NISSAN is expected to an­ nounce plans to build two new electric models in Sun­ derland, securing the future of the UK’s largest car factory which provides work for 6,000 people. According to Sky News reports, the Japanese manufacturer in­ tends to produce replace­ ments for the Qashqai and Juke crossover cars, with in­ vestment in the factory ap­ proaching £1 billion (€1.15 bil­ lion).

Cellnex sells WIRELESS telecommunica­ tions infrastructure and ser­ vices company Cellnex con­ firmed that it intends to sell all or part of its Austrian and Irish operations to reduce its debt and upgrade its credit rating.

This follows the Spanish multinational’s €730 million sale of a 49 per cent holding in its Swedish and Danish divi­ sions to US investment firm, Stonepeak, last September.

32 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

THERE is concern in Sweden that the recent suggestion made by a Swedish MP re­ garding mosques could jeopar­ dise the country’s NATO appli­ cation.

During his recent speech at Landsdagarna in Västerås, the Sweden Democrat’s (SD) lead­ er Aron Emilsson called for a plan to stop all new construc­ tion of mosques and demolish existing ones.

Emilsson claimed that mosques were hubs for radi­ calisation and violent propa­ ganda: “It is not a right to come to our country and build mon­ uments to a foreign and impe­ rialist ideology,” he said.

Credit: Frankie Fouganthin/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

at Plan for mosques Royal Welsh

Swedish politician Aron Emilsson.

“In Sweden, there is a con­ stitutional right to freedom of religion, based on the core principle that individuals can practise their religion individu­ ally and together with others.

This applies equally to all ­ Christians, Muslims, Jews and

members of other faiths,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted in response.

He continued: “In Sweden, we do not demolish places of worship. As a society, we must fight back against violent ex­ tremism whatever its grounds ­ but we will do so within the framework of a democratic state and the rule of law.”

According to Emilsson, his speech will not affect the out­ come of Sweden’s entry into the Alliance. “I don’t think this particular part is what will af­ fect the NATO accession,” he commented.

“I point out that I think it is reasonable to take action against this. Then you have to look at what is constitutionally possible, but something must be done,” he continued.

Turkey expert Michael Sahlin, also a former ambas­ sador, described the latest de­ velopment as: “a unique secu­ rity­political piano stomp,” and something that could af­ fect the Swedish NATO pro­ cess.

College EARLIER this year, Princess Sofia of Spain swapped her royal life in Zarzuela for the halls of St Donat’s Castle in south Wales.

On August 29, Princess Sofia marked her first step toward indepen­ dence when she took up residence, at UWC At­ lantic College. Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan, the college has been likened to Hogwarts.

While images of the King’s youngest daugh­ ter in Wales are scarce, her life at the boarding school is no secret. Un­ like her previous lifestyle in Madrid, Sofia’s days are now filled with a wide range of activities and experiences.

Her accommodation is markedly different from the King’s Pavilion, shar­ ing a room with fellow students in one of the re­ cently renovated, more sustainable houses.

The gender­segregat­ ed rooms for four include single beds, side tables, small closets, and shelves for personal and study items, emphasising mini­ malism and shared re­ sponsibility for mainte­ nance.

The college’s schedule is rigorous, starting class­ es at 8am and ending around 1pm. Students engage in two hours of community service, two hours of physical activity, and two hours of cre­ ative activity weekly.

The campus boasts a large garden, where Sofia and her peers tend to vegetables and fruits, later sold in the local town.

This aligns with Queen Letizia’s interest in eco­ logical gardening. More­ over, the campus is home to two donkeys, Ava and Hugo, and offers a range of creative work­ shops, including hat de­ signing led by theatrical milliner Sue Crowle.

NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

30 November - 6 December 2023

EWN 33

Catherine McGeer IN the world of heating solutions, one innova­ tion stands out as a prime example of effi­ ciency and sustainability: the heat pump.

While often overlooked in many parts of the world, the Nordic countries, particularly Nor­ way, have embraced these machines as a cornerstone of household energy manage­ ment.

At the core of a heat pump’s functionality lies its remarkable ability to extract heat from the outdoor air and transfer it indoors. This process, driven by a refrigerant and compres­ sor, defies intuition by leveraging even frigid temperatures to generate warmth inside homes. Interestingly, the same technology used for heating Norwegian houses serves as air conditioners in warmer climates.

The secret to their efficiency lies in their op­ erational principle. Unlike electric heaters that directly generate heat, heat pumps sim­ ply relocate existing heat, consuming sub­ stantially less electricity to maintain indoor temperatures, typically reducing energy us­ age by 50 per cent to 80 per cent.

Norway’s journey into widespread heat pump adoption dates back to the early 2000s when a surge in electricity prices prompted consumers to seek energy­saving alterna­ tives. This, coupled with government incen­ tives, led to a rapid uptick in installations, with nearly half of Norwegian households

Image: Shutterstock/my nordic

LESSONS FROM NORWAY: Clean energy choices for the future.

now equipped with heat pumps.

Norway’s success in embracing heat pumps stems from deliberate policy choices made during the 1973 oil crisis. Unlike coun­ terparts elsewhere, Norwegian leaders championed alternatives to fossil fuels, nur­ turing a skilled workforce for heat pump in­ stallation and implementing incentives for their adoption. The country’s well­insulated homes further enhance the efficiency of these systems, offering comfortable living conditions even in freezing winters.

Despite its proven benefits, the global scale of heat pump adoption remains modest, meeting only a fraction of building heating re­ quirements. While Norway’s success story might not be replicable everywhere due to economic disparities and energy infrastruc­ ture differences, it serves as a compelling model for nations seeking cleaner, more effi­ cient heating solutions.

CAIO BENICIO is the Brazil­ ian hero who on Thursday November 23 managed to take down the attacker who sent panic through Dublin city after stabbing four peo­ ple, including three children.

Benicio, a 43­year­old De­ liveroo delivery driver, was riding his motorbike when he saw a man with a knife at­ tacking a young woman in Parnell Square East. The Brazilian immediately got off his bike, removed his helmet and struck the attacker with it.

“I have two children my­ self, so I had to do some­ thing. I did what anyone would do. There were peo­ ple there but they couldn’t intervene because he was armed, but I knew I could use my helmet as a weapon,” he said.

Benicio came to Ireland to work after his restaurant burnt down in Brazil. He now hopes his children will be

Photo: GoFundMe / Buy Caio Benicio a pint

Nordic efficiency Heroic payout

CAIO BENICIO: Bravely stopped the knife attack.

able to move with him to Dublin one day and he told RTE’s Liveline that the Brazil­ ian embassy had been in touch to award him a medal for his bravery.

And, in a heart­warming twist to the story, local resi­ dent, Paul Darcy, set up a Go­ FundMe page saying: “The man’s a hero and the least we can do is buy him a pint, so I’m asking everyone who can to to donate the price of a pint of Guinness in your lo­ cal so he knows the people of Dublin appreciate him.”

As of yesterday, the ‘buy

him a pint’ fund had reached nearly €300,000, enough to buy Caio Benicio over 50,000 pints!

Comments by donors on the GoFundMe included: “Your bravery stopped a ter­ rible attack on innocent lives.

The people of Dublin and Ire­ land can’t thank you enough for intervening. Wishing you and your family a happy life and all the very best for the future.”

Anyone who would like to donate can do so here ­ https://www.gofundme.co m/f/buy­caio­benicio­a­pint

34 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Banishing under-eye circles

DARK CIRCLES: Lifestyle choices will promote overall skin health.

THE quest for radiant, youthful eyes of­ ten leads to the exploration of various skincare solutions, with eye creams be­ ing a popular contender. While these products claim to banish dark under­ eye circles, the reality is nuanced.

Dark circles can stem from factors like genetics, lack of sleep, or dehydra­ tion. While eye creams may offer tem­ porary relief by hydrating the delicate under­eye skin, their efficacy varies. In­

gredients like hyaluronic acid and vita­ min C can brighten and plump the skin, reducing the appearance of dark circles.

However, a holistic approach involv­ ing sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and hydration remains paramount.

While eye creams can be a valuable ad­ dition to a skincare routine, they work best when complemented by lifestyle choices that promote overall skin health.

euroweeklynews.com THE British Benevolent Fund was founded in Madrid over a century ago to help Britons in Spain in extreme financial diffi­ culties. People with no re­ sources, and no family or friends’ network available.

Since then BBF has expand­ ed to work across Spain with partner charities from www.supportinspain.info and the British consular network to find solutions wherever possible.

A recent case was of a man in his 60s who came to live in Spain some years ago but who hadn’t done his residency by the time of the Brexit with­ drawal agreement and found himself without any medical or state support in the event that something would go wrong.

He was not unduly con­ cerned by this as he had funds to afford private medical cover and had lived all over the world without needing to use any state services.

Everything changed over the pandemic when he discov­ ered to his horror that he had been the victim of a giant ponzi scheme fraud that af­ fected him and the money that he had ‘invested’ had dis­

FEATURE/NEWS

Thanking everyone

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

appeared along with the handsome ‘dividend’ that he had been living off for some time.

He was ruined.

At first he decided to stay in Spain, downsized to a cheaper apartment and started looking for work.

Then came the body blow.

He was diagnosed with a late stage cancer and was not able to work.

He used the remaining sav­ ings to pay for treatment, but it was impossible.

He was not eligible for Span­ ish state support ­ though he was able to find a charity that would help him navigate to be registered as he had lived here before the 2020 deadline.

But in the meantime, he was dying.

There was no option but to

return to the UK and hope that he would be eligible quickly to receive treatment on the NHS. He had no funds but was able to stay short term with a relative while his application was processed.

The BBF was able to pay for emergency medication and his repatriation so that he could receive treatment.

It is hoped that he will make it and be able to live off the state pension ­ a far cry from the high life of Marbella, but at least safe and secure to enjoy his later years.

If you would like to help him and many like him with a do­ nation please visit www.britishbenevolentfund. org. Thank you on behalf of the many. Olaf Clayton Chair, BBF

Violence erupts in Dublin VIOLENT scenes erupted on the streets of the Irish capital of Dublin on Thursday, November 23, the result of protesters taking to the streets following an incident earlier in the day. Three young children and a woman were injured after a ‘serious public order incident’ oc­ curred outside a primary school in Dublin’s North In­ ner City at around 1.30pm.

A suspect was detained fol­ lowing the attack with a five­ year­old girl, and a woman in her 30s said to have been ad­ mitted to hospital for treat­ ment to serious injuries.

The Garda immediately deployed a public order in an attempt to help uniformed officers control the disorder after signs of trouble started to brew.

Officers reportedly had bottles, fireworks and flares thrown at them and some were involved in skirmishes with the protesters.

Two double decker buses and a police car were set alight in Parnell Square East, while a Luas tram was at­

Credit: X@GardaTraffic

36 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

Garda officers on the streets of Dublin, Ireland.

tacked and had several of its windows smashed on O’Connell Street.

Addressing the press out­ side Mountjoy Garda Sta­ tion, Commissioner Drew Harris, said: “I think there’s disgraceful scenes in terms of a major investigation, the maintenance of a scene and the gathering of evidence.

“We are drafting in re­ sources to deal with that and that will be dealt with properly. I’ve given full di­ rection to our resources here in respect of making arrests and bringing offend­

ers to justice.”

Harris continued: “It’s our responsibility to make sure that we police the streets, and part of that is we ask people to act responsibly and not to listen to the misin­ formation and rumour that is circulating on social media.”

Following the incident, the police said they were not ‘ruling out any motive’, but that it was not currently be­ ing treated as a terror­relat­ ed attack. It was a ‘stan­ dalone attack’, insisted Superintendent Liam Ger­ aghty at a press conference.

FEATURE/NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

30 November - 6 December 2023

Enigmatic legacy

Priest freed A GERMAN priest who was kidnapped in Mali last year has been freed.

The news about Father Hans­Joachim Lohre was announced on Sunday, November 26, by a gov­ ernment representative in Mali.

Two representatives of the archdiocese ­ who wished to remain anony­ mous ­ confirmed that the priest had been set free. It is believed that the clergy­ man had already boarded a plane that was headed for his homeland.

Lohre disappeared in the Malian capital of Ba­ mako in November 2022 after living in the African country for around 30 years.

At the time of his kid­ napping, the clergyman was not missed locally un­ til he failed to turn up for a mass that he was due to hold. His car was found still parked in front of his house and his mobile phone was only diverting to voicemail.

Islamist militias have been trying to bring Mali under their control for around 10 years. Socially and ethnically charged conflicts have regularly ex­ acerbated instability, often resulting in the repeated kidnappings of Christian members of clergy.

Advertising Feature

Image: Jimj0will / Shutterstock.com

A RECENT survey conducted

by Ifop­Fiducial for Sud Ra­ dio has unveiled a nuanced perspective on Napoleon’s legacy among the French population.

Surprisingly, 74 per cent of respondents view Napoleon’s actions as hav­ ing a positive impact on France, an increase from 1969 when only 70 per cent held this opinion.

One of Napoleon’s endur­ ing legacies, the Civil Code, stands out as a beacon of admiration among the French.

A significant 40 per cent of respondents believe that the creation of the Civil Code

NAPOLEON: His legacy continues to influence politics.

represents Napoleon’s most commendable achievement, an increase from 34 per cent in 1969.

Napoleon’s contributions to education have also gar­ nered praise, with 20 per cent of people responding favourably, a substantial in­ crease from the 5 per cent recorded in 1969, and re­ flecting the lasting impact of Napoleon’s initiatives on the educational landscape of France.

While Napoleon’s mili­ tary triumphs were cele­ brated by previous genera­ tions, contemporary French citizens display a more mea­

sured response.

Military victories, once a source of national pride, have seen a 2 per cent de­ crease in support since 1969.

When considering mod­ ern political figures, 25 per cent of French respondents believe that both Nicolas Sarkozy and Marine Le Pen are closest to Napoleon’s ideas.

This insight adds a con­ temporary dimension to the survey, illustrating how Napoleon’s legacy contin­ ues to influence percep­ tions of political figures in France.

Seabed sabotage A CHINESE ship has been identified as possibly being responsible for several cases of suspected sabotage on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Hanno Pevkur, the Estoni­ an Minister of Defence said on Thursday, November 23, that investigations have shown that the ‘New Polar­ bear’ had dragged its anchor along the seabed for hun­ dreds of kilometres.

Several data cables and a gas pipeline were said to have been destroyed on the seabed in the space of a few hours, including a data cable that runs between Estonia and Sweden.

Previously, the Chinese ship ­ which has connections to Russia ­ had also been sin­ gled out by Finnish and Esto­ nian authorities. However, there has been no confirma­ tion of how the suspected sabotage took place.

“All these incidents with a Finnish cable, a gas line and a Swedish data cable, they are all connected. They have been destroyed by human hands, probably by an an­

chor,” said the Defence Min­ ister.

When asked by the news outlet whether he believed the damage was intentional, he replied: “We are still in the investigation phase but let’s be honest: if you have an anchor hanging loose for more than 100 nautical miles (185 km), then it is not very likely, it is hard to be­ lieve that it was just an acci­ dent.”

Pål Jonson, the Swedish Minister of Defence con­ firmed the situation. “The submarine salvage vessel Belos has made dives and established that the events that took place are obviously coordinated, both in terms of time, and in terms of ge­ ography, and that these ca­ bles have been affected by external influences.”

500 million The number of tweets sent per day.

EWN 37

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45

40 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

COMMUNITY

COMMENTS

SOMETIMES the most unlikely stories capture the imagination and one such concerns the fact that cancer suffering TV presenter Jonnie Irwin was to celebrate his 50th birthday in Mijas on the Costa del Sol. Whilst we expected readers to be interested in the story and supportive of the powerful fight that the brave father of three young children is putting up, we were simply overwhelmed by the coverage the article received and the floods of good wishes comments that were posted. https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/11/20/a-place-in-the-suns-jonnie-irwin-i-can-beatthis/ will give access to view the article.

If we were to publish them all, we would need to significantly increase the size of the paper, but the following are a just a sample of the positive observations received.

“

Go for it Jonnie, I had bowel cancer and now ok, it can be done.

William Hardie

Way you go Jonnie. Keep on fighting. Enjoy every single moment with your beautiful family. XX Olwen Dentith

Such an inspirational and incredible person, you keep fighting and beat it, you have got this, keep proving them wrong, keep fighting, we are behind you and fight with you. Happy birthday and here’s to the next xx cheers.

Tina Dwan

Firstly happy 50th Jonnie, hope you had a great day with your lovely family and you’re looking great, hope you’re feeling it also. I saw your picture with Jasmin and you did look fantastic. I hope and pray you will get well. Take care Jonnie, god bless you and your family.

Jane Pursey

If anybody can beat their cancer, you can Jonnie. I wish you and all your family the best. Keep it up Jonnie. We love you. A Belated Happy Birthday.

Deborah Camplin

Best presenter by far. Bless you and your lovely family.

Wendy Goodman

Going through the same as you, keep going Jonnie, you are my inspiration.

June McGuire

Wow let’s hope so, we are all with you all the way, so deserved an inspiration to all ‘C’ sufferers.

James Snee

To be honest you render me speechless, your strength is astounding love to you all xxxxx Georgie Wakefield

Great bloke, proper family man. Keep fighting fella.

Phil Newman

We are with you Jonnie 150 per cent. I include you in my prayers at night. God bless.

Jean Jennings

You truly are an inspiration Jonnie, my 55-yearold brother-in-law is the same, but really battling to live.

Sarah Sharp

I so hope you do Jonnie, you are looking so much better, I’m on my third round, so anything is possible.

Sending love and hugs to you and your lovely family.

Angela Edwards

Keep going Jonnie you can do it. You are an inspiration to other’s suffering from this horrible disease.

Love to you and all your family.

Joan Smith

THE other major topic which continues to attract comments is the 180 Days in Spain Campaign and the latest observations are: If anyone from UK owned property in EU countries prior to Brexit then they should be able to use them at any time they want. In Spain for example, purchasing a property comes with a 10 per cent additional tax and ongoing annual taxes, but you are not allowed to use them. Brexit or no Brexit, EU economies are struggling, so why not take advantage of the people who want to spend their money instead of restricting the number of days they may visit? It’s simple economics.

JT

We are property owners in the Canaries. We now spend extra time in Turkey and Cyprus spends average around £2k for two of us per week so just our two holidays will see a reduction of £6k into Canarian economy 2024. This is a huge amount for the local economy when you multiply it by the other restricted holiday home owners.

On the plus side, it’s giving us insight into other countries where we have been made very welcome as tourists in areas where costs are cheaper. Maybe it is time to sell up and look at the alternatives!

Aggie

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.

FEATURE/NEWS

euroweeklynews.com

30 November - 6 December 2023

DENMARK­based 3D print­ ing company, COBOD Inter­ national, has initiated a groundbreaking project in Guatemala by creating the nation’s maiden 3D­printed, earthquake­resistant house.

This innovative structure spans 527 square feet and is engineered to withstand earthquakes up to 9.0 magni­ tude. Featuring distinctive at­ tributes such as a palm­tree leaf roof and lofty nine­foot ceilings, this house is a testa­ ment to the transformative potential of 3D printing tech­ nology in construction.

Collaborating with Danish architecture firm 3DCP Group and cement compa­ ny Progreso, COBOD used three­metre­high walls in the construction, achieving the feat in a mere 26 printing hours spread across seven days. This pioneering archi­ tectural venture embraces organic shapes that were previously deemed financial­ ly unviable or impractical with conventional building materials like concrete blocks, which dominate the region’s construction land­

LANCASTER: Similar to the aircraft shot down over Ijsselmeer in 1943.

evidence of human remains.

“This confirmed that one or more of the crew of the Lan­ caster ED603 were down there,” the recovery group’s chairman Johan Graas said.

A salvage operation fi­ nanced by the Netherlands’ €15 million national plane­ wreck rescue fund began at the end of last summer. It lo­ cated the remains of three bodies and two silver­plated cigarette cases.

One bore the initials of the Arthur Smart and the other had belonged to Raymond Moore, proving that the bod­

ies of three missing airmen had finally been located.

“The goal of our foundation is to give men like them an of­ ficial grave, men who gave their lives for our freedom.

Alas, it has taken many years,” Graas told the UK me­ dia.

Approximately 5,500 air­ craft were lost over the Netherlands during the Sec­ ond World War and the Dutch government believes some 400 of them still con­ tain remains of airmen from both the Allied and German forces.

Seismic innovation Image: cobod.com

THE Netherlands Defence Ministry has confirmed the identity of remains found in a Lancaster bomber shot down over Holland 80 years ago.

They belonged to Arthur Smart, a 27­year­old flight en­ gineer, mid­upper gunner Charles Sprack, aged 23 and Raymond Moore, the 23­ year­old old wireless operator who were reported missing in action on June 13, 1943.

The Pathfinder with its crew of seven was returning from a bombing raid over Bochum (Germany) when it was shot down over the IJs­ selmeer lake. The bodies of four men were washed up and buried but Smart, Sprack and Moore were never found.

Fifty­three years later, a lo­ cal fishing boat hauled up a motor and after removing the serial number took it to a mu­ seum run by the Stichting Air­ craft Recovery Group, which began investigating the dis­ covery.

In 2016, the group found

Photo credit: CC/Ronnie Macdonald

An 80-year wait

3D-Printed homes revolutionise construction.

scape.

The project pays homage to Guatemala through its de­ sign, showcasing the creative liberty afforded by 3D print­ ing technology. COBOD, known for Europe’s first 3D­ printed building in Copen­ hagen and a school in Ukraine, is championing the revolutionary possibilities of 3D printing in construction.

The adoption of 3D print­ ing in construction addresses significant concerns within the industry. The traditional construction sector is a sub­ stantial contributor to green­ house gas emissions and re­ source consumption.

Concrete, a primary material in construction, alone ac­

counts for 8 per cent of glob­ al carbon dioxide emissions due to its energy­intensive production process. Howev­ er, 3D printing significantly reduces waste and environ­ mental impact, potentially halving the carbon footprint associated with construc­ tion.

Moreover, the technology streamlines construction processes, mitigating physi­ cal strain on workers by eliminating heavy lifting, re­ ducing errors, and accelerat­ ing production. This innova­ tion holds promise in alleviating the affordable housing crisis worldwide by minimising construction time and costs.

EWN 41

INTERVIEW

Speaking European LATEST in our ongoing conversations with Europeans who have chosen to settle in Spain, we look to Ireland and Lynn McCabe who settled here 20 years ago.

Having spent several years in the hospitality sector in the Republic and with a number of small children, she decided with her partner that it was a great opportunity to move to Spain bringing their culinary experience to the Costa del Sol. Lynn explained “It was a great idea, the ‘Celtic Tiger’ was roaring and we catered mainly for British and Irish customers in Marbella.”

As her five children grew up in Spain, they effectively became bilingual which is a gift for any young person and although she understands a lot of Spanish, Lynn admits that whilst she tried to learn, there were too many English-speaking influences.

All of her children returned to Ireland for educational purposes, but four of them are back and happily settled in Spain.

When asked about any regrets in leaving Ireland Lynn said “I do miss members of my family, but the new technology means that I can be in regular contact with them and to be perfectly honest, I see a very different Dublin now compared to the one that we left 20 years ago.”

The family grew up loving the climate,

Lynn McCabe would do it all again.

spending a lot of time outdoors which meant that they all kept very healthy. “Now I love waking up to blue skies which certainly lift my spirits.”

Many complain about bureaucracy in Spain, but Lynn takes a very phlegmatic view saying “I am a migrant and if that is the way the Spanish operate then it is for me to fit in with them rather than the other way around and I can certainly cope with it. Looking back, I think Britain and Ireland would benefit with adopting some of the Spanish ways, I feel safe here and I would happily do it all again.”

42 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

euroweeklynews.com

NEWS/FEATURE

Linda Hall I WAS slim as well as young when I ar­ rived in Spain well over half a century ago.

Food was fuel, something to eat when it was put in front me, and as my mother was a good cook what she put in front of me more than acceptable.

Better still, I’d played no part in its preparation. Nor did I have the advan­ tage of domestic science lessons at school as the good nuns who taught me believed our time was better spent on more academic pursuits.

That was a relief but not a lot of help when I was expected to feed not only myself but a man.

At first we lived in a hotel where we sometimes ate. Other times, especially if it was late, we would go to a nearby tasca where I ate all manner of things that I had neither seen nor heard of be­ fore.

Chorizo was wonderful, so was Serra­ no ham and so were the dishes both hot and cold ­ which I now know as tapas ­ that were harder to identify.

What, I asked, were the lightly bat­ tered little morsels we ate sometimes, that had such a delicious and tender fill­ ing?

I was informed that they were the

TINNED SOUP: No place in a 60s’ Spanish kitchen.

lower part of a lamb’s hind legs and it was some time before I found that I was eating brains.

Then we moved into an apartment, which was when I had to start looking at food from another angle, that of provid­ ing it.

Apocalyptic bunker

Fortunately, the future mother­in­law I had yet to meet wasn’t a good cook, Andrés assured me, but that didn’t alter the fact that late 60s’ gender assignment assigned me to the kitchen.

I didn’t know where to start and very often didn’t.

Credit: YesPhotographers/Shutterstock.com

HUMAN LIFELINE: Norway’s Noah’s Ark of Seeds.

‘Noah’s Ark of seeds’, this facility stands resiliently against any catastrophe that might threaten global food security.

The alarming decline of biodiversity over the years, with 75 per cent of plant species disappearing and a significant loss of livestock breeds, spurred global organisations to ac­ tion.

The initiative for a se­ cure seed bank gained momentum in the 1980s.

The visionaries behind this monumental project, in­ cluding agricultural engi­ neer José Esquinas, recog­ nised the necessity of preserving seeds to sus­

tain a growing population expected to reach 10 bil­ lion by 2050.

This technological mar­ vel, owned by the Norwe­ gian government and fi­ nancially supported by entities like the FAO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, required an initial investment of €9 million.

Additional funds to­ talling €20 million were al­ located to fortify the vault against moisture, with an annual maintenance cost of approximately €1 mil­ lion. Protected within lay­ ers of aluminium foil and stored in meticulously la­ belled boxes, these seeds

Food was cooked from scratch then, and shopping meant the municipal mar­ ket where my Spanish advanced rapidly because it was either that or go hungry.

A few self­service grocers were begin­ ning to call themselves supermarkets, al­ though at that time there was only one in Benidorm that could lay claim to the name.

It didn’t help that I would have been perfectly happy with the tins of Camp­ bell’s soup I bought there, but Andrés firmly believed the right place for Camp­ bell’s soup was in an Andy Warhol paint­ ing, not a Spanish kitchen.

I did my best with meat but steered clear of fish unless it was tinned tuna or sardines, which were a godsend. If there is nothing else doing, most Spanish man then ­ and now –­ will happily eat a large section of barra, or even the entire bar­ ra, filled with the contents of a tin of sar­ dines, plus some of the oil.

There was also the get­out clause of a spit­roasted chicken ­ still a standby in many a household ­ but that was as far as fast food went.

Then my mother sent me an updated paperback version of Mrs Beeton and I was on my way, although neither of us was ever as thin as we were during those first apartment months.

Riding the night train

Image: www.seedvault.no

Catherine McGeer NESTLED within the icy solitude between Norway and the North Pole lies an extraordinary fortress ­ the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. This colossal under­ ground bunker, penetrat­ ing over 100 metres into a mountain on the island of Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean, holds a treasure crucial for humanity’s sur­ vival.

Designed as a protective haven for the planet’s seed reserves, the vault safeguards over 1.1 mil­ lion seed varieties sourced from nearly every corner of the globe. These seeds represent essential crops like maize, rice, wheat, aubergine, lettuce, barley, and potatoes, ensuring ge­ netic diversity for future agricultural needs.

Selected for its freezing temperatures and per­ mafrost, Svalbard pro­ vides the ideal conditions for preserving seeds, guar­ anteeing their viability for centuries. Dubbed the

Photo credit: CC/Mike Mozart

Things ain’t what they used to be: Food

Ambitious plan.

AN ambitious plan to start operating night trains with connections between major Euro­ pean cities has been announced.

From the end of 2024, the Nightjet rail com­ pany proposes to connect at least 25 cities in­ cluding Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Berlin, Ham­ burg, Madrid, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Vienna, Lisbon, Porto, Prague, and Budapest, with trains that travel up to 230 km/h.

This new initiative aims to offer travellers a unique, more relaxed and efficient alternative to air travel, with a move towards sustainabili­ ty and comfort.

With the whole world moving towards a greener future, Nightjet is aligning itself with the European Commission’s sustainability goals.

The transport sector’s target of cutting CO₂ emissions by 90 per cent by 2050 is definitely a very ambitious target. In this context though, compared to air travel, the ‘hotels on rails’ con­

cept emerges as a greener and more efficient means of travelling.

With France already cutting the use of flights linking cities internally when they can be reached by train, and Spain looking to follow suit, train travel is looking more likely to be the future mode of transport across Europe.

In December 2021, Nightjet started operat­ ing routes linking Vienna and Munich, plus Zurich, Cologne and Amsterdam. Zurich and Rome were connected in 2023, with the com­ pany hoping to have lines linking Vienna and Berlin with Brussels and Paris ready by the end of this year.

Direct night train services between Barcelona and Zurich should be in service by December 2024.

The Catalan city will eventually be connected to Milan, Florence, Hamburg, Cologne, Brus­ sels, Basel and Berlin by the end of 2024 if all goes to plan.

www.euroweeklynews.com • 30 November - 6 December 2023

43

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Spaying and neutering your pets SPAYING: Eliminates the heat cycle in females.

MAKING the decision to spay or neuter your pet is a signifi­ cant health choice that not only benefits your pet, but al­ so plays a pivotal role in con­ trolling pet homelessness.

These procedures, performed under anaesthesia, involve removing the reproductive organs.

Spaying prevents uterine infections and breast tu­ mours in female pets, while neutering reduces the risk of testicular cancer and prostate problems in males, contribut­ ing to a longer and healthier life.

Spaying eliminates the heat cycle in females, while neutering diminishes the like­ lihood of male pets roaming in search of a mate.

Spayed and neutered pets are cost­effective for owners, eliminating the expenses of caring for a litter.

For dogs, neutering is tradi­ tionally done between six to nine months, while kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as eight weeks.

These procedures are not quick fixes for behaviour problems, but contribute sig­ nificantly to long­term health and well­being.

Spaying and neutering are compassionate decisions that contribute to the overall wel­ fare of your pets and the community. Embracing these procedures is a commitment to responsible pet ownership and the well­being of our beloved companions.

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Washing your fussy pet BATH­time with your furry friend should be a bonding expe­ rience, not a wet chase around the house. If your pet tends to be fussy during baths, follow these tips for a smoother and more enjoyable grooming session.

Lay everything within easy reach Avoid the escape artist routine by having all your bathing essentials within arm’s reach. From pet­friendly shampoo to treats and an extra pair of hands, proper preparation en­ sures a seamless process.

A rubber mat in the sink or tub prevents slips, and using natural, tearless, and hypoallergenic shampoos keeps your pet comfortable.

Keep your pets comfortable Adjust the water temperature to lukewarm, as pets are sensitive to extreme temperatures. A non­slip bath mat pro­ vides better footing, making your pet feel secure during the wash. By creating a comfortable environment, you’ll min­ imise fidgeting and make bath time more enjoyable for your pet.

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REMOVALS & STORAGE

EWN 45

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MOTORING

Guardia’s new weapon THE Guardia Civil’s new radar cars are revo­ lutionising the way speed limits are moni­ tored, making Spanish roads safer for ev­ eryone.

In recent times, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has intensified its efforts to combat reckless driving and speeding. This initiative follows a noticeable reduction in road fatalities over past decades, attributed to various measures such as the introduc­ tion of a points­based driving licence and increased speed monitoring.

A key component in this strategy is the Guardia Civil’s radar cars, traditionally cam­ ouflaged in high­risk areas to detect and de­ ter speeding. Previously, these vehicles were easily identifiable by their PGC (Par­ que Guardia Civil) licence plates.

However, they now feature standard li­ cence plates, enhancing their ability to blend in and remain undetected, even when parked in unusual locations like hard shoulders or intersections.

Despite appearing like ordinary vehicles from the outside, radar cars are equipped with cutting­edge technology. The DGT re­ veals that these cars have internet connec­ tivity and a satellite communications sys­ tem.

Furthermore, the cars are fitted with cameras capable of capturing images of

Credit: bela art/Shutterstock.com

46 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

Guardia Civil use radar vehicles.

speeding vehicles. These cameras are so­ phisticated enough to process fines on the spot. In addition, they include licence plate readers that can swiftly identify uninsured or stolen vehicles.

Contrary to the belief that Guardia Civil radar cars are covertly lying in wait, they are equipped with luminous panels that warn of their location, as well as emergen­ cy signals to indicate their presence.

Up to two­thirds of sanctions on interur­ ban roads are for speeding ­ a factor pre­ sent in almost 20 per cent of accidents in­ volving casualties. Speeding fines can range from €100 to €600, and infractions can lead to the loss of up to six points on a driver’s li­ cence.

48 EWN 30 November - 6 December 2023

AFTER waiting 47 years, Italy are once again the hold­ ers of the Davis Cup after beating Australia in the 2023 final on Sunday, November 26.

The Italians went ahead through Matteo Arnaldi in a nervy first match in Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena, eventually dispatching Alexei Popyrin 7­5 2­6 6­4.

Despite losing his match in Italy’s 2­1 win over the Netherlands, Filippo Volandri brought Arnaldi back in preference to Lorenzo Musetti for Sunday’s clash.

Jannik Sinner was inevitably the hero as the world No 4 totally outclassed Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6­3 6­0 in the decisive rubber to clinch the title for the Filip­ po Volandri’s team.

“I think now I won one of the most important matches in my life, I don’t know what to say right now,” said an emotional Matteo Arnaldi after the vic­ tory. “It has been an incredible feeling for all of us, ob­ viously we are really happy,” a jubilant Sinner com­ mented.

Italy previously lost against Sweden in the 1998 final having last won the trophy back in 1976. The Aus­ tralian team was looking to go one better than last year’s defeat in the final by Canada, but Leyton He­ witt’s Aussies failed to win the nation a 29th Davis Cup title.

Roy Keane played for Manchester Utd.

icised McAteer on The Overlap’s ‘Stick to Football’ podcast. Reflecting on the red card incident, Keane was un­ apologetic, stating, “He de­ served that.”

This blunt assertion by Keane was in response to host Gary Neville’s commentary on the incident. Further, when Jill Scott inquired if the two were friends, Keane’s response was a definitive “Absolutely not.”

Credit: Elliott Brown flickr

Terry Venables dies aged 80

By John Smith THE family of former England football manager Terry Ven­ ables has announced that he died on Sunday November 26 aged 80 after suffering a long illness.

The statement said “We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness.

“We would ask that priva­ cy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so lucky to have had in our lives.”

He was a successful foot­ baller playing primarily for Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hot­

RIP: Terry Venables in his role as pundit.

spurs and with Spurs won the FA Cup as both a player and manager which was a rare achievement.

Venables was a successful manager nicknamed El Tel during his time with Barcelona, although perhaps his finest hour was as manag­ er of England who made it to the semi final of Euro 96 al­ though the team couldn’t win on home soil.

There was a minute’s ap­

plause before the kick off of Tottenham’s home match on November 26 against Aston Villa.

One of his protégés Gary Lineker took to X (formerly Twitter) and said “Devastat­ ed to hear that Terry Ven­ ables has died. The best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and plea­ sure of playing for. He was much more, though, than just a great manager, he was vi­

SPORT

Boxing challenge Credit: bodrumsurf/Shutterstock.com

Italy take Davis Cup

IRISH hardman Roy Keane has been challenged by a former Ireland teammate after a long­ running disagreement.

Personal grudges can last years, especially at the highest levels of sport. Could a boxing ring be the next venue for re­ solving a long­standing football feud?

Ex­Liverpool midfielder and former Ireland teammate of Roy Keane, Jason McAteer has suggested a unique way to set­ tle their differences, a boxing match with a hefty purse of £1 million.

Football pundit McAteer was in a discussion following Ireland’s game against the Netherlands on Saturday, November 18, when the decades­old fallout was raised, the context of which revolves around an ongoing disagree­ ment stemming from an inci­ dent in 2002.

During a match between Manchester United and Sun­ derland, with just 10 seconds to go, Keane was red­carded for elbowing McAteer, an ac­ tion that has fuelled their rival­ ry over the years.

The dispute, which had sim­ mered down, resurfaced re­ cently when Keane openly crit­

euroweeklynews.com

brant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend.

He’ll be hugely missed. Send­ ing love and condolences to Yvette and the family. RIP Terry.”

Terry Venables wrote a number of books on football and was also responsible for introducing private detective Hazell to the small screen for two series and 22 episodes and also acted as a pundit on TV and in the National Press.

McAteer, now a pundit for beIN Sports, responded to Keane’s comments by labelling him a ‘clown’ in a social media post. This back­and­forth ex­ change has reignited the ten­ sions between the two, lead­ ing to McAteer’s bold challenge.

McAteer, expressing his weariness of the ongoing ani­ mosity, jokingly proposed the idea of a boxing match to re­

solve their differences. “Or, we could get in the ring for a mil­ lion pounds each and fight it out.”

This light­hearted sugges­ tion also included a call to fa­ mous boxing promoter Eddie Hearn to potentially arrange the bout. “Eddie [Hearn], if you’re watching… Ed­ die Hearn, get him on the phone,” he said.

Fans of Roy Keane were quick to post their thoughts on OurGameHQ/Twitter/X: “McAteer was a very limited footballer whose entire game consisted of ‘getting in peo­ ple’s heads’. Meanwhile Keane was captaining United to the Treble.”

Another commented: ‘“Long running feud” I’d say Keane has barely given McA­ teer a second thought in 20 years.”

“Just staying relevant. He wasn’t fit to lace Keane’s boots!” added another.

Max Verstappen wins THE F1 season came to a close with the common sight of Max Verstappen standing on the winners’ podium on Sunday, November 26.

Starting from pole, the Dutchman’s Red Bull took the chequered flag at the Yas Marina Circuit in the season’s finale in Abu Dhabi to clinch his 19th victory from 22 races.

Verstappen was rarely troubled by the rest of the field as the triple world champion stormed to yet another win. Charles LeClerc started alongside him in the Ferrari on the front row but the Red Bull driver was totally in com­ mand and closed out any attempts that LeClerc made to pass him.

As has been the case for the majority of the season, Verstappen gradually pulled clear and finished with a comfortable win to finish 17 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez who took second place in the final driver’s table.

However, the Mexican was hit with a five­second time penalty for an inci­ dent involving Lando Nor­ ris which subsequently saw him demoted to fourth place with the British McLaren driver on­ ly managing fifth.

LeClerc moved up to second as a result with Britain’s George Russell taking the third spot on the podium for Mercedes.

Ferrari and Mercedes were battling for second place in the constructor’s championship behind the runaway winners, Red Bull, with Sunday’s result finally giving the place to Mercedes by three points.

Oscar Piastri placed the other McLaren sixth be­ hind Norris, followed home by the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda in the Al­ phaTauri.

Mercedes and Aston Martin occupied the final spots in the top 10 thanks to Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll respectively.